A 24-year-old man is in jail after he allegedly attacked the Orem couple who were renting him a room and a fellow tenant with a knife. The tenant suffered life-threatening wounds, and the husband was seriously injured.
According to a probable cause statement, the wife told police she was in the kitchen cooking when the suspect entered, stared at her and then went downstairs to the basement, where he rented a room. Shortly thereafter, she heard her other tenant screaming, “He’s stabbing me!” She said the suspect then charged up the stairs with a knife in his hand, and came after her.
She retreated, screaming. Her husband heard her screaming and began fighting with the suspect. The husband was stabbed “significantly” in the left shoulder, according to police, suffered knife wounds to his right bicep and both of his hands, and he was bitten on the left calf. The wife suffered lacerations on her left wrist and left shin and was bitten on the right elbow.
The couple’s 12-year-old son ran out of the house and tried to get help.
The husband told police he hit the suspect several times with a wooden chair, took the knife away from him and subdued him until officers arrived.
The first victim — who also rented a basement room — ran from the home and called 911 before collapsing two houses south. He was stabbed in the abdomen, in the left arm and in the back of his neck.
According to police, the first victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery. The husband was stable, but also needed surgery. The wife suffered minor injuries and did not need further medical attention.
The suspect was also taken to a hospital to be checked for injuries. He tried to kick police officers both at the scene and as he was being transported, according to the probable cause statement.
Once the suspect was cleared for release by medical personnel, he was taken to the Utah County jail, where he is being held without bail, pending charges.
The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not name suspects until they have been formally charged.
