A Washington state man and his dog were stabbed early Sunday morning after the suspect questioned the victim about his religious beliefs and reacted violently when the man identified as a Christian, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred near the S S Quickstop Grocery in Parkland just before 6:30 a.m., as reported by The Blaze, citing information from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Parkland is located about 45 minutes south of Seattle.
Deputies said the 54-year-old victim called 911 to report that an unknown man had stabbed him and fled southbound on Park Avenue South. When deputies arrived, they found the victim in serious condition. He told officers the suspect approached him and asked what religion he practiced.
“The victim answered the man and said something about being a Christian, and the man then attacked and stabbed the victim and his dog,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The victim, later identified as Eddie Nitschke, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. His dog was also critically wounded and taken to an animal hospital where it was rushed into surgery.
Nitschke told KING-TV that the suspect initially pressed him repeatedly about his religious beliefs. Nitschke said he first responded that he was not religious, but the suspect continued pushing the issue.
“I guess Christian,” Nitschke said he finally told the man.
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According to Nitschke, the suspect then accused him of pursuing him. “He said, ‘You’ve been looking for me for some time,’ and I said, ‘I don’t even know you,’” Nitschke told the station.
The suspect then allegedly attacked Nitschke with two knives, striking him multiple times and puncturing his lung. During the assault, Nitschke told his girlfriend to release their dog from their car. The dog attacked the suspect and was also stabbed during the struggle.
“My shirt was drenched with blood,” Nitschke told KING.
Deputies used a K-9 unit to search the area for more than two hours but were initially unable to locate the suspect. At approximately 8:40 a.m., a deputy spotted a man matching the suspect’s description in the 800 block of 112th Street South. The suspect fled behind a nearby home.
Authorities said deputies pursued the suspect and reported that shots were fired around 8:47 a.m. KOMO-TV reported that the sheriff’s office later confirmed the suspect was dead after being shot by multiple deputies.
The sheriff’s office said the suspect was armed with multiple knives, resisted arrest and approached deputies before shots were fired. Detectives have not released the suspect’s identity and said they do not know whether he had any connection to the area or the residence he fled behind.
While hospitalized, Nitschke said he became aware that the suspect was being treated in a nearby room. He said he heard a “code red” call before learning the suspect had died.
“When I found out that he died, I thought to myself, ‘Oh, he died,’” Nitschke said. “I felt bad, but then I thought, ‘He just stabbed me.’”
Nitschke later discharged himself from the hospital against medical advice, saying he wanted to check on his dog. “They didn’t want to let me go,” he said. “I just don’t want to be in the hospital. I wanted to find out about my dog.” Video from KING indicated the dog is expected to recover.
The sheriff’s office Facebook post about the incident drew hundreds of comments. Many reflected outrage, concern and frustration, with numerous commenters questioning whether an attack involving a Christian victim would receive broader attention or be treated as a religiously motivated crime.
Take some time to pray for Eddie Nitschke and his dog, for physical healing and emotional recovery, and for peace and protection amid a growing climate of hostility toward people of faith.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
