Attacker kills 1, wounds 3 in Texas stabbings

AUSTIN, TEXAS — An attacker with a machete-like knife fatally stabbed one person and wounded at least three others Monday on the University of Texas campus, and authorities said a suspect was in custody.

There was no immediate word about a motive.

Student Rachel Prichett said she was standing in line at a food truck outside a gym when she saw a man with a knife resembling a machete approach the person standing behind her.

“The guy was standing next to me,” Prichett said. “He grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved the knife in it. I just started running as fast as I could.”

Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Kendrex J. White.

University police Chief David Carter described the weapon as a “Bowie-style” hunting knife. He said the stabbings occurred within a one-block area as the attacker “calmly walked around the plaza.” Student Rachel Prichett said she was standing in line at a food truck outside a gym when she saw a man with a large knife approach the person standing behind her.

Another student, Ray Arredondo, said he was walking to his car when a mass of students near the gym started running.

“They were just screaming, ‘Run! Get out of here!’” Arredondo said.

Travis County Emergency Medical Services tweeted that one person died at the scene near the gym. The others were taken to the hospital with potentially serious wounds.

There were reports of additional patients with non-life-threatening injuries, the agency said. Lindsey Clark said she saw the suspect tackled by police as he was running toward the entrance of Jester Hall, a complex of dormitories and classrooms. She described him as wearing a bandana and grey sweatshirt and said he appeared quiet and subdued as police held him down.