12 Injured in Mass Stabbing at Salem Homeless Shelter

Salem, Oregon- A mass stabbing at a local shelter in downtown Salem left 12 people injured Sunday evening after a man reportedly attacked multiple individuals with a knife inside and outside the facility, authorities said.

Salem Police responded to the Union Gospel Mission in the 700 block of Commercial Street NE shortly after 7:15 p.m. after receiving reports of a stabbing in progress. Officers arrived to find multiple victims suffering from stab wounds and a chaotic scene unfolding both inside the shelter and just outside the building.

According to witnesses, the suspect, later identified as Tony Latrell Williams, 42, of Bend, was speaking with individuals in the lobby when he suddenly drew a knife — described as approximately eight inches in length — and began stabbing people without warning. Others who tried to intervene were also injured in the melee.

Police said Williams then exited the building and continued the assault, stabbing several individuals who were seated outside near the facility, before walking eastbound across Commercial Street.

Officers apprehended Williams near the intersection of Commercial and Division streets NE, directly across from the shelter. The knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered and seized at the scene.

Emergency responders provided medical aid to 11 victims at the scene before transporting them to Salem Health for further treatment. A twelfth victim was later identified during witness interviews. Five male victims with serious injuries remain hospitalized as of Monday morning, police said. The remaining seven — all men — sustained non-life-threatening injuries of varying severity.

Among those injured were two Union Gospel Mission staff members. The others were guests of the shelter or individuals who were outside the building at the time of the attack. All victims range in age from 26 to 57.

Detectives from the Salem Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit are leading the investigation. Early findings indicate that Williams arrived in Salem on Saturday, May 31, after traveling via intercity bus from Portland to Deschutes County. He entered the shelter shortly before the stabbing occurred Sunday evening.

Police said the incident does not appear to be a targeted attack, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Williams was booked into the Marion County Jail on preliminary charges of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Additional charges may follow pending further assessment of the victims’ injuries.

Authorities have not released a possible motive. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Salem Police.