Man fatally stabbed inside a restroom at Washington's West End Library; branch closed through Sunday as suspect remains at large

An adult man was fatally stabbed inside a public restroom at the West End Neighborhood Library, in the 2300 block of L Street NW in Washington, D.C., on Friday afternoon, November 6. Officers responding to a report of a man down at about 1:49 p.m. found the man suffering from stab wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene. Police recovered a knife believed to have been used in the attack, and the homicide unit is investigating; as of November 7, the victim had not been identified, no one had been arrested and the suspect remained at large. (Photo: file photo of the Library of Congress in Washington.)

Victim attacked in the restroom; a kitchen knife was left at the scene

Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters outside the library on Friday afternoon that officers had responded to a report of a man down and found an adult male with a stab wound inside one of the library's restrooms. Investigators believe the stabbing happened inside the restroom, where a weapon resembling a kitchen knife was left at the scene, and police are reviewing the library's video footage to identify a suspect. Carroll said the victim was not a library employee, and that police had not established whether the victim knew the attacker, whether an argument preceded the attack or whether it was targeted; the motive is not known. Early reports said police believed the man may have been stabbed outside and run into the library for help; Carroll later clarified that the available information indicates the attack happened inside the restroom, and that there was no reason to believe it happened outside.

A dedicated officer was on site; the library is closed through Sunday

Notably, the West End Library already had a dedicated police officer assigned to the facility, and that officer was present when the incident occurred. The D.C. Public Library said no one else was harmed, and that the branch would remain closed through Sunday, November 8, reopening on Monday, November 9, to support staff affected by the traumatic event. Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan said serious incidents of this kind are rare and that libraries remain safe public spaces.

Second homicide in the area this year; police appeal for tips

According to D.C. crime data, this is the second homicide this year in the Foggy Bottom and West End Advisory Neighborhood Commission area. Police are asking anyone with information to call (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411. The homicide unit is continuing to investigate the victim's identity, the suspect's whereabouts and the motive.