PORT TOWNSEND — A homeless man was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after he was stabbed in the head and back in downtown Port Townsend on Sunday morning, police said.
Matthew Malone, a 22-year-old transient man from Port Angeles, has been booked into the Jefferson County Jail for investigation of attempted murder. He remained there Sunday with no bail set.
Keppie Keplinger, Port Townsend Police Department spokesperson, said the victim’s name was unknown as of Sunday night.
Malone told police he traveled to Port Townsend after hearing voices telling him to kill someone, Keplinger said.
Police say that Malone saw the victim, a 57-year-old homeless man who is known to the Port Townsend Police Department, and followed him to the fence behind Memorial Athletic Field, 550 Washington St., where he stabbed him multiple times in the back and head.
Keplinger said the knife used was “large” but was unsure of its length.
Malone was transported to Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend before he was booked into jail. Keplinger said Malone had blood on him after the attack, but she was unsure as to whether he was injured.
Police first received the report at about 9:16 a.m. and were on scene by 9:19 a.m., Keplinger said Sunday night. A slower response time was mistakenly reported to the PDN ealier Sunday, she said.
The victim attempted to fight off and stop the attack until police arrived.
A helicopter landed at 9:56 a.m. and the victim was in the air by 10:10 a.m. on his way to Harborview Medical Center, she said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department was on the scene to assist with the investigation.
Keplinger said the attack was still under investigation.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken contributed to this report.
