WASHINGTON — A suspect is in custody after a man was stabbed to death inside the Petworth Neighborhood Library in Northwest D.C. on Thursday night, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
A call came in to police dispatchers around 7 p.m. regarding a stabbing that had occurred at the library in the 4200 block of Kansas Avenue, Northwest.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from a stab wound.
He was pronounced dead. The victim was identified Friday as 45-year-old Ali Zarrincalaki.
A suspect was taken into custody in connection to the stabbing.
According to Ashan Benedict, executive assistant chief of police, the suspect and victim appeared to be experiencing homelessness and were known to each other.
One of the men followed the other into the library, where an altercation occurred.
That's when one of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed the other in the neck. Benedict called the stabbing a "targeted attack."
Bystanders who saw the stabbing took down the suspect and held him until police arrived.
The knife has since been recovered, Benedict said.
The suspect was identified Friday as 36-year-old David Howard. He's being charged with first degree murder while armed.
The library will remained closed until Monday.
DC Public Library provided the following statement to WUSA9 on Thursday night:
"This evening at the Petworth Library there was a targeted attack involving two individuals in which one lost their life. In consideration of DCPL staff who were present during this traumatic event, the Petworth Library will remain closed through Sunday March 5 and will reopen Monday March 6. Thank you for your understanding."
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This is a developing story. Stick with WUSA9 for updates as they become available.
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