Police arrest stabbing suspect

Hours-long standoff at Martin Court ends with arrest Tuesday morning

A woman peers into the unit where a man had barricaded himself after allegedly stabbing another resident early Tuesday at Martin Court. SWAT officers cut off the top of the door to Tase the suspect. (Photo by Steve Lannen)

A man is facing assault charges after allegedly stabbing a fellow resident and then barricading himself inside his unit early Tuesday morning at an apartment complex in Georgetown.

The incident occurred a little before 2:30 a.m. at Martin Court, 6188 4th Ave. S. Police found a man with multiple stab wounds who was treated on the scene and then taken to Harborview Medical Center, according to a Seattle Police press release.

Police later charged Elijah J Steward, 29, with felony assault. He was lodged at the King County Correctional Facility.

A witness who declined to identify himself for fear of retribution said the suspect, Steward, had been making noise much of the night, repeatedly slamming his door and yelling. The victim, who lived nearby confronted him and asked him to stop the noise.

"He was causing a disruption and the person next door got tired of it and asked him to stop. And then the guy was rushing [the neighbor] with a knife and stabbing him with a knife ..." in the lung and face, the witness said. A police spokesman later said the weapon was a boxcutter. Dozens of dried blood droplets were seen on the walkway in front of the apartment.

After the alleged stabbing, Steward went inside his apartment and barricaded himself. Police hostage negotiators tried to persuade him to come out. After seven hours, police secured a search warrant and SWAT officers cut off the top third of the door. They used a Taser on the suspect who eventually was handcuffed and walked out of the apartment with officers.

Residents described Steward as mentally unstable who sometimes seemed to have different personalities. Sometimes calm, sometimes not.

A resident, Dee Sanders, said Steward nearly pushed her over as she was trying to board a bus with her walker and he was getting off. Another said he stabbed someone's car tire and threatened management.

Saunders questioned why Martin Court management had not taken action against him sooner. "They need to take some responsibility. They were advised of other acts of hostility, and you do nothing and someone winds up stabbed."

Martin Court is a transitional supportive housing project which includes on-site case management for homeless and disabled individuals, according to its web site.

The Gazette reached out to the Low Income Housing Institute, which manages the property, but did not receive an immediate response.