Maryland Church Stabbings: Man, Wife Killed In Double Stabbing During Sunday Service

Two Maryland church stabbings happened to a man and his wife during a Sunday church service on July 26. Authorities have a Virginia man in custody as a suspect in the double stabbing that killed one man and seriously injured his wife.

ABC News reports that deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding the double stabbings at the Anna Prayer Counseling and Retreat Center in Urbana, which is near Sugarloaf Mountain; it’s about 50 miles west of Baltimore.

A “very bloody scene” was discovered by first responders, Sheriff’s Chuck Jenkins says. The Maryland church stabbings happened as service was wrapping up. There were others in the same area as the husband and wife who were attacked by the man. Jenkins says that the scene was a “pretty gruesome scene, pretty bloody.”

“The stab and slashing injuries were pretty severe,” Jenkins said in a press conference.

The male victim died at the scene and his wife was flown to a trauma center in Baltimore. She’s said to be in serious, but stable condition, Jenkins said.

A motive in the church stabbing hasn’t been determined. Jenkins said that he wishes he knew, but nothing is clear at this point.

According to the sheriff, he said the suspect was the one who called 911… saying that he was on foot, “waiting to be arrested.” He didn’t resist arrest or the police when he was taken into custody.

The suspect is identified as a 30-year-old from northern Virginia. WUSA 9 reports that the stabbing suspect is of Asian descent. He was allegedly living in the church for about a week before the stabbings occurred.

Jenkins says that the Maryland church stabbing suspect was being questioned and is cooperating with authorities. There were some language barriers with investigators that posed a bit of a problem, but a Montgomery County police officer was going to act as an interpreter.

As ABC News reported, deputies were called to the church facility Saturday after the suspect complained about the food there.

Law enforcement were looking for a knife, but didn’t find a weapon as of 11 p.m. Sunday.

WUSA adds in its coverage that police have indicated there’s no immediate threat to the community after the double stabbings that killed a man and hurt his wife.

It’s also noted in reports that the Anna Prayer Mountain Church is a Korean prayer center.

An investigation into the Maryland church stabbings is ongoing.

[Photo Credit: Commons Wikimedia]