Man with knife suspected of stabbing 2 people at training center is fatally shot by police

MANASSAS, Va. — Responding officers shot and killed a man suspected of fatally stabbing one person and seriously wounding another at a training center for electrical workers, police said Tuesday.

Prince William County officers were called to the Union Learning Center in Manassas for a report of a stabbing around 3:30 p.m. and encountered a man at the entrance with a knife, a police statement said. More than one officer opened fire, striking the man, who died at the scene, police said.

They then learned the man had stabbed two people downtown, Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news conference. The stabbing victims were taken to area hospitals, where one man died and another was in critical condition, police said.

Investigators were working to identify the suspect and it was not clear what relationship he had to the school or the victims, or what the motive was for the stabbing, Newsham said.

The scene was “horrific,” he added.

“You have people coming here to get some training and the next thing you know, one of them has lost his life and another is fighting for his life in a local hospital,” Newsham said. “I can’t imagine what the families are going through right now.”

Police do not yet know how many officers fired shots, Newsham said. He would not discuss what led to the shooting, but said officers responded to an active violent situation and were confronted by the suspect at knifepoint and had to resort to deadly force. No officers were injured, he said.

The chief said he has reviewed their body camera video and the department will determine whether to make it public within 30 days.

The Regional Critical Incident Response Team will lead the investigation into the shooting, Newsham said.