Stabbing at Foggy Bottom Library Leaves One Dead, Police Search for Suspect
Interim Chief of Police Jeff Carroll says a man was found with a stab wound in a restroom at 2301 L Street NW, with officers reviewing footage to identify the attacker.
By Robert Marshall ·
The West End Library in Washington, D.C. closed its doors following a fatal stabbing that left one man dead inside a restroom. Interim Chief of Police Jeff Carroll confirmed the victim was a patron, not an employee, and that the attack occurred at the facility located at 2301 L Street NW, just north of Washington Circle.
According to Carroll, a library patron discovered the injured man in the restroom and alerted staff members. Second District officers arrived at the scene at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Thursday. Upon arrival, responders recovered what Carroll described as a kitchen knife from the location.
The victim’s name has not yet been released. Police indicated that many patrons were inside the building when the killing took place. Authorities are currently reviewing video footage from the library to identify the person responsible. No suspect had been named as of the latest update from the police department.
Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the executive director of D.C. Public Libraries, addressed the safety of the network. He noted that three and a half million people visit D.C. public libraries annually. Reyes-Gavilan stated, “Our libraries are safe spaces. Incidents like this are increasingly rare.” He added that the high annual attendance figures support the safety of the locations and encouraged the public to continue visiting.
The West End Library remained closed with its entrance blocked by police tape, and officers were stationed inside the building. Chief Carroll asked anyone with relevant information to contact the police. The search for the attacker is ongoing, with no further details provided regarding the suspect’s whereabouts.
