12 hurt in stabbing spree at Oregon homeless shelter in US

A man went on a stabbing spree at a homeless shelter in Salem, Oregon, on Sunday, injuring 12 people -- five seriously -- before he was arrested near the facility, authorities said.

The man, Tony Latrell Williams, 42, of Bend, Oregon, was talking with several people in the lobby of the facility, Union Gospel Mission, when he took out a knife and began stabbing people, the Salem Police Department said in news release.

The victims ranged in age from 26 to 57, police said. They said that two victims were staff members, and 10 victims were either guests at the shelter or were just outside the facility.

Five of the victims, all men, remained hospitalized Monday, police said.

The attack did not appear to have been targeted, though the investigation was continuing, police said. Williams was arraigned on Monday on one count of attempted murder and 11 counts of second-degree assault, said Brendan P. Murphy, the chief deputy district attorney for Marion County, Oregon. He did not enter a plea because he did not have legal representation, Murphy said. Williams is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail pending his next court appearance, set for June 9.

Mayor Julie Hoy of Salem said in a statement it was not yet clear why the attack "happened in our community."

"We do know that this is a tragedy for the 12 victims and their families, the Union Gospel Mission community and Salem," Hoy said. "Today, we are praying for strength and peace for all victims and their families."

The Salem Police Department said officers arrived at 7:15 p.m. Sunday and found several people inside the shelter who had been stabbed by a man "with a knife approximately eight inches in size," the police said in a statement.

Some victims were injured as they tried to stop Williams, police said. Williams left the shelter and then stabbed others near the facility before walking away, police said.

The police caught Williams across the street from the shelter. They said they had also found the weapon used in the attack.

Eleven people were taken to Salem Health Hospital for treatment, and a 12th victim was identified as officers interviewed witness, police said.

According to investigators, Williams was on a bus from Portland to Deschutes County when he got off in Salem on the day before the stabbing.

A representative for Salem Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

In a video posted on social media on Monday, Craig Smith, executive director of Union Gospel Mission of Salem, said that the two staff members were hospitalized "in very serious condition."

"We need for you to be praying for them today, and we also need you to be praying for the Mission," Smith said.

The organization, which supports men, women and children experiencing homelessness with meals, shelter and other services, served breakfast on Monday morning in the facility's parking lot and planned to serve lunch as well, Smith said.