Manassas, VA (TCD) — Police shot dead a 26-year-old suspect who is believed to have stabbed two people at a vocational school this week, leaving one dead and the other in critical condition.
Shortly after 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, the Prince William County Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a possible stabbing in progress at the Apprentice Training Facility at 7016 Infantry Ridge Road. Police arrived and located the suspect, later identified as Philip Brant, holding a knife at the front door.
According to police, Brandt did not comply with the officer's commands and moved toward the officer. Two officers fired at Brandt with their department-issued handguns and struck him. He was confirmed dead at the scene.
Upon further investigation, police discovered Brandt took a knife from his backpack and stabbed one of the victims multiple times in a classroom with other students. The students dispersed, and Brandt reportedly continued to attack the victim.
At some point, Brandt left the classroom and stabbed a second victim in another classroom, according to police.
The first stabbing victim collapsed inside the classroom where he was stabbed. The second victim reportedly came out of the building but later fell into the parking lot.
The victims were taken to a nearby hospital, but Elijah Safadi (23) died from his injuries. Police said the second victim, whose identity has not been released, was in critical condition as of February 13.
The officers who fired the suspect were placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
Safadi's family told WRC-TV that he was expecting a baby and worked as an electrician in addition to taking classes at a training center.
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