Man stabbed in Shadle Library fled from medical help because he had a warrant for his arrest

A young man who was stabbed Tuesday in the Shadle Branch Library fled from police officers because of an arrest warrant.

At about 2:20 p.m., two men started threatening the victim near the periodicals section of the library, said Branch Manager Patricia Bonner. She said they appeared to have known each other.

“By the time it took someone to walk over there, the verbal turned physical,” she said.

One man apparently brandished a knife and a small hatchet and began swinging at and stabbing the other man “multiple times,” Bonner said. One of the library’s staff members was able to intervene and separate the two.

The victim was taken to the back of the library to wait while medical assistance arrived, while the attacker walked outside. Bonner said the young man told her he was stabbed by the same guy in the past.

“I said, “we’ve got medical help on the way, I urge you to stay,” Bonner said to the young man who was stabbed. “He said, “I can’t. I have a warrant.”

Bonner said he ran outside before police arrived.

The suspect fled south toward Shadle Park High School where he was apprehended by officers, said police spokeswoman Det. Janice Oliver. The victim was located and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Spokane Public Schools spokesman Kevin Morrison said no kids were in danger as classes had already let out by the time the man fled toward the school.

The identity of the attacker and victim have not been released.

Bonner said nobody else in the library was injured or was in danger of being injured.