Salem State Stabbing: Police Search For Man Who Stabbed Female Student, Bus Driver

A Salem State stabbing has left two people wounded and put the Massachusetts university’s campus on lockdown while police searched for the suspect.

The incident happened Wednesday at 11:10 am when an “unknown assailant” attacked two people on a university shuttle that was in a campus parking lot. The male assailant sliced a female student, leaving a laceration on her arm, and then stabbed the driver in the chest when he tried to help the wounded student.

The driver’s puncture wound was described as minor, and he was taken to an area hospital. The female student was treated at the scene. Neither of the victims’ injuries were considered life-threatening.

After the Salem State stabbing, university officials briefly shut down the campus, forcing students and faculty to remain inside school buildings. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown for two hours while police searched for the suspect.

Salem police have identified the suspect as Timothy Wells, who they believe may have returned to campus at some point after the stabbing.

“The suspect from the stabbing that occurred earlier today might have returned to campus,” the school said in its 12:35 p.m. posting. “The entire Salem State university campus is to shelter in place at this time. Doors should be closed and locked; refrain going near windows until further notice.”

Wells was identified as a senior at the college who took a leave of absence in early September. Salem police had a run-in with Wells three weeks ago after he hopped a fence and entered a nearby high school football field at 11:30 pm. Wells was charged with trespassing and violating the city’s knife ordinance.

Police said the Salem State stabbing suspect was last seen driving toward downtown Salem in a 1999 Toyota Camry. He is wanted for two counts of assault with intent to murder and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a university spokesperson said.