SALEM, Ore. — In yet another tragic reminder of Oregon’s growing public safety crisis, twelve men were stabbed at a Salem homeless shelter Sunday night — five of them now fighting for their lives in critical condition.
The suspect? A 42-year-old man from Bend who arrived in Salem by way of Portland — reportedly using an inner-city bus service to travel across counties the day before the attack.
Authorities have identified the man in custody as Tony Latrell Williams, who, according to police, walked into the Union Gospel Mission Men’s Shelter Sunday evening and without warning began stabbing people inside. When others attempted to intervene, they too were slashed or stabbed. Williams then exited the building and allegedly attacked additional men who were sitting outside the facility.
Williams was found crossing Commercial Street with the 8-inch knife still in his possession. He was arrested on the scene and now faces 12 counts of second-degree assault, with more charges likely as the investigation unfolds.
The attack occurred around 7:15 p.m. at 777 Commercial Street NE, right in the heart of Salem. Police and medics rushed to the scene after reports of multiple victims with knife wounds. Initially, 11 victims were reported, but a 12th was later discovered during witness interviews. In total, two shelter staff members and 10 guests, all men between the ages of 26 and 57, were injured.
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Despite the horrifying nature of the incident, authorities say the attack does not appear to be targeted — a chilling revelation that raises even more questions about how a man capable of such violence was able to travel across counties and walk freely into a shelter.
Mayor Julie Hoy, appearing shaken at a press conference Monday morning, admitted she was in “shock and disbelief” over what had happened. “Most concerned with those who are still in the hospital,” she said, calling the attack “a difficult thing to process.”
But critics say the time for shocked reactions has passed.
“This is the cost of weak policy and broken systems,” said one Salem resident outside the police station Monday. “We have a revolving door for violent offenders, no oversight on cross-county travel for unstable individuals, and shelters that have become sitting targets.”
According to Salem Police Deputy Treven Upkes, Williams had been riding a bus route from Portland to Deschutes County but got off in Salem on Saturday — arriving at the shelter the following evening. The motive remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
While officials haven’t confirmed whether Williams had a criminal record or mental health history, many are questioning how someone capable of such violence ended up unsupervised in a shelter surrounded by vulnerable individuals. Others are calling for a full audit of shelter security protocols and transportation systems that may allow dangerous individuals to drift unchecked from city to city.
The Union Gospel Mission, a longtime refuge for those experiencing homelessness and addiction, has released a brief statement expressing heartbreak and asking for prayers for the victims.
Meanwhile, five men remain in critical condition at Salem Health, and an entire city is once again left wondering: How many more tragedies like this must happen before Oregon’s leaders take real action on crime and mental health?
Source: KGW
