Washington man stabs stranger to death, allegedly tells mother ‘anti-masker had attacked him,’ police say

A Washington stabbing suspect is in custody for the murder of a man exiting an apartment complex and investigators are still trying to piece together a possible motive, authorities said.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on April 25, Bothell Police Department responded to multiple calls about the attack. The first officer on the scene began life-saving procedures, police said, but she was not able to save 29-year-old victim John Huynh’s life. 

Police arrested Ian Patrick Williams, 25, in connection with the homicide.

According to police documents obtained by Seattle’s KIRO-TV, Huynh was leaving an apartment building with his wife and several other people. Williams, a senior in college studying computer science who lived in the building, was standing outside by the door and “gave the middle finger” to the victim, eyewitnesses said, and Huynh asked the suspect if he “flipped him off or waved at him.” 

Seconds later, the documents state, a witness told police he saw “Williams pull out a knife and stab the victim in the heart.”

According to court documents, Williams ran to the third-floor apartment he and his mother shared and she later allegedly told police he was “very excited and told her an anti-masker had attacked him.”

Officers located the suspect with cuts on his hands in a bedroom and he allegedly told them where they could find a folding knife with 3-inch blade that is thought to be the murder weapon, police said.

“I know there have been a lot of questions regarding motive, and this investigation is just in its beginning process,” Bothell police Capt. Bryan Keller said, according to KIRO-TV.

Keller noted that there were “easily 10, if not more,” potential eyewitnesses to the stabbing they need to interview since the crime scene is across the street from restaurants with outdoor seating.

Online records show Williams, who had no prior criminal history, was booked on murder charges at the King County Correctional Facility. His bail has been set at $2 million.