Seattle police are searching for a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old University of Washington student on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The victim, believed to be a transgender female, was found in a laundry room at the Nordheim Court Apartments, a school-affiliated off-campus student housing complex located at 5000 25th Avenue Northeast.
University of Washington police and the Seattle Fire Department responded to the building at approximately 10:10 p.m. On May 10. Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspect Description
Authorities are searching for a suspect described as a Black man with the following characteristics:
- Age: 25 to 30 years old
- Height: 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8
- Build: Slim build with black hair and a beard
- Clothing: Blue jeans and a button-up shirt, possibly worn underneath a dark blue vest
Police have urged anyone who sees the suspect to call 911 immediately.
Investigation and Public Safety
The Seattle Police Department took over the case from university police, and detectives from the Homicide and Crime Scene Investigation units responded to process the scene. Investigators are treating the incident as a homicide.
“The circumstances leading up to the murder are under investigation. Officers are actively searching for the suspect. No arrests have been made at this time.”
Seattle Police Department Detective Eric Muñoz
Shortly after the stabbing, the University of Washington used its alert system to notify residents of Nordheim Court to shelter in place and lock their windows and doors. That order was lifted at approximately 12:56 a.m. On Monday, May 11, 2026, though the death investigation remains ongoing.