Suspect Surrenders
Christopher Leahy, 31, surrendered to Bellevue police at 10:42 p.m. PT on Wednesday, according to officials. Leahy is suspected of fatally stabbing a 19-year-old transgender University of Washington student. The suspect was transferred to Seattle homicide detectives and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of murder.
Police Investigation
The victim was found in a laundry room in the Nordheim Court student housing complex at 10:10 p.m. Sunday, according to authorities. The apartments are privately managed, but listed on the University of Washington's website as an option for undergraduate housing. Police released photos of a suspect on Wednesday afternoon. One photo shows the suspect looking directly into a surveillance camera.
Describing the Suspect
The Seattle Police Department said the suspect attended the University of Washington from 2015 to 2021. Police described the suspect as a light-skinned Black male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build. He was seen wearing thin wire-framed glasses, a scruffy goatee, a navy blue pullover sweatshirt, and blue jeans.
University Response
University of Washington President Robert J. Jones said, "There are no words that can express the profound loss of a student." Jones added that violence affecting a trans person can be especially worrying to LGBTQIA+ community members. The Division of Student Life is providing support and resources to students affected by the death.
Campus Safety
The University of Washington campus in Seattle has about 36,000 undergraduates. Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 13. Seattle police detectives continue to investigate the Sunday night stabbing.
