Police: Suspect in Texas stabbings had mental health trouble

AUSTIN, Texas — The man suspected of stabbing four people at the University of Texas, one fatally, suffered from mental health troubles and had been involuntarily committed for treatment in another city, authorities said Tuesday.

University Police Chief David Carter said Kendrex J. White was “obviously” suffering from some kind of mental difficulties, but he did not elaborate on his condition or treatment.

“This was not a conspiracy. This was not a person that had a vendetta against any particular group,” Carter said.

White, 21, who was enrolled at the Austin campus, was armed with a large hunting knife. He was described by former classmates as intelligent and easygoing and was active in a student group for black professionals.

Two of the students wounded in Monday’s attack have been treated and released from hospitals while a third remains hospitalized, University of Texas President Greg Fenves said.

The student who was fatally stabbed was identified as freshman Harrison Brown. Brown was a talented musician who had not yet decided on a major, Fenves said.

Witnesses described a sudden and seemingly random assault on strangers.

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.”