MANASSAS, Va. (TCD) — Police fatally shot a 26-year-old suspect who allegedly stabbed two people at a trade school this week, leaving one man dead and another in critical condition.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, shortly after 3:20 p.m., the Prince William County Police Department received multiple 911 calls regarding a possible stabbing in progress at an apprentice training facility at 7016 Infantry Ridge Road. Officers arrived and located the suspect, later identified as Philip Brant, armed with a knife at the front door.
According to police, Brant failed to comply with officers’ commands and moved toward them. Two officers fired at Brant from their department-issued handguns and struck him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Upon further investigation, police learned Brant allegedly grabbed a knife from his backpack and stabbed one of the victims multiple times in a classroom while other students were present. The students reportedly scattered, and Brant continued to attack the victim.
According to police, Brant left the classroom at one point and stabbed the second victim in another classroom.
The first stabbing victim collapsed inside the classroom where he had been stabbed. The second victim reportedly made it out of the building but later fell in the parking lot.
The victims were transported to local hospitals, where 23-year-old Elijah Safadi died from his injuries. Police said the second victim, who was not publicly identified, remained in critical condition as of Feb. 13.
The officers who fired at the suspect have been place on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
Safadi’s family told WRC-TV he was expecting a baby and had worked as an electrician in addition to taking class at the training center.
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