Man Stabbed for Religion; Attacker Killed by Police

In Parkland, Washington, a man identified as Eddie Nitschke was stabbed multiple times, and his dog was also injured, after a stranger confronted him about his religion. The attack occurred Sunday morning in a convenience store parking lot, approximately 40 minutes from Seattle. Nitschke stated the assailant initiated the confrontation after Nitschke identified himself as Christian.

The assailant then accused Nitschke of following him, an assertion Nitschke denied. The confrontation escalated when the man produced two knives, stabbing Nitschke and then slashing his dog as it intervened. Both Nitschke and his dog were transported to the hospital in serious condition.

Law enforcement officers located the suspect in a backyard, armed with multiple weapons. According to police, the suspect advanced on deputies with the knives, prompting them to open fire. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Nitschke, who was being treated for a collapsed lung and brain blood clot, later learned his attacker was in an adjacent hospital room before his death.

The incident has raised safety concerns among local residents, with some expressing a desire to relocate due to perceived insecurity in the area. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case.