Man Surrenders After UW Student Found Dead on Campus

Campus Discovery

Campus police responded to Nordheim Court student housing at the University of Washington in Seattle on Sunday at 10:10 p.m. Officers found a 19-year-old University of Washington student in a laundry room. The victim had sustained more than 40 stab wounds to the head, neck, shoulder, arms, and hands. The student was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been identified as a transgender woman, 19 years old. The name has not been released publicly by Seattle police. Family members have not made a public statement.

The University of Washington Seattle campus has approximately 36,000 undergraduates. Spring quarter classes continue through early June, with graduation ceremonies scheduled for June 13.

Suspect Surrender and Booking

Christopher Leahy, 31, surrendered to police on Wednesday at 10:42 p.m. PT in nearby Bellevue, approximately eight miles from the killing location. He was transferred to Seattle homicide detectives and booked into King County Jail for investigation of murder.

Seattle police released images Wednesday afternoon from surveillance footage taken in the laundry room. The images showed a man wearing a vest with a button-up shirt and blue jeans. Leahy’s surrender came following the release of these images.

Telephone messages seeking comment from Leahy’s relatives were not immediately returned.

University Response

University of Washington President Robert Jones said in a statement Thursday: “I hope the arrest brings some sense of relief to our community. But this arrest does not lessen the profound shock and grief that the victim’s loved ones and our campus are still experiencing or bring back a beloved, promising and talented member of our university.”

Jones thanked Seattle police for the arrest. “Much is still unknown about what caused this tragedy,” the statement said. “The University remains committed to offering resources for those who need support, including our LGBTQIA+ community, during this difficult time.”

Investigation Status

The relationship between Leahy and the victim is not known. Police have not disclosed a motive for the stabbing. Investigators are continuing their examination of the circumstances.

References: NBC News suspect arrested UW student