Twelve people were hospitalized following a mass stabbing attack at a homeless shelter in Salem, Oregon, on June 1, 2025, with five victims remaining in critical condition as of June 2. The incident occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. at the Union Gospel Mission Men’s Mission on Commercial Street Northeast, directly across from the Salem Police Department headquarters.

Police identified the suspect as Tony Latrell Williams, 42, of Bend, Oregon, who was arrested outside the shelter shortly after the attack. Williams was arraigned on charges of second-degree attempted murder and 11 counts of second-degree assault on June 2 and was denied bail after having several outbursts in court.

The attack began in the shelter’s lobby when Williams was checking in for his second consecutive night at the facility. According to Craig Smith, executive director of the Union Gospel Mission, the violence erupted when Williams was supposed to hand over his belongings to staff as part of standard protocol. Smith indicated that “something set him off, and he evidently had a knife in his bag.”

Williams initially targeted two employees at the front desk, with one employee remaining in critical condition and another suffering multiple stab wounds but expected to recover. After attacking the staff members, witnesses reported that Williams continued his assault on other individuals inside the shelter before moving outside to target additional victims at random.

Witness Alan Humphreys described the scene, noting that as Williams moved through the area, people were falling to the ground before he realized the man had a knife. Humphreys reported that Williams inflicted severe injuries, including cutting one victim from the belly button to the sternum. Another witness, Malik Law, observed Williams stab at least seven people, with everyone attempting to move out of his path as he attacked them.

Bobby Epperly, who was on the second floor of the shelter during the incident, witnessed Williams screaming at traffic outside while holding a knife. Epperly described the scene as resembling a horror movie and discovered blood throughout the building when he went downstairs, realizing that multiple people had been stabbed inside.

Police recovered an eight-inch knife from the scene. Lieutenant Treven Upkes of the Salem Police Department confirmed that Williams had been traveling on a bus from Portland to Deschutes County but disembarked in Salem before carrying out the attack.

Initially, authorities reported 11 victims transported to Salem Health hospital with varying types of injuries. However, police later discovered a 12th victim who had arrived at the hospital independently seeking medical treatment. As of June 2, five men remained hospitalized in critical condition.

The Union Gospel Mission, founded in 1952 by local Christian businessmen, operates as a faith-based organization serving Salem’s homeless population. The Men’s Mission facility, which opened in 2021, replaced the organization’s aging 1960s-era downtown facility and provides accommodation for up to 150 homeless men along with support services, food, clothing, case management, and counseling.

Court records reveal that Williams has an extensive criminal history spanning Coos and Deschutes counties dating back to 2002, including a previous charge for attempted murder in Coos County in 2004.

Video footage of Williams’ arrest was captured by bystander Caleb Rennie, who recorded the suspect lying on the pavement as officers took him into custody. Rennie expressed astonishment at the incident, stating he never anticipated such an event occurring in Salem.

Smith confirmed that the entire incident was captured on the shelter’s surveillance system and that all footage was provided to investigators. The Union Gospel Mission posted a closure notice on their facility door following the attack, indicating they would remain closed until further notice.

Angela Hedrick, spokesperson for the Salem Police Department, indicated that detectives were actively gathering facts about the incident. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the unprovoked attack at the homeless shelter facility.