Twelve people were hospitalized following a mass stabbing attack at the Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter in Salem, Oregon, on June 1, 2025. The violent incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. at the men’s shelter located on Commercial Street Northeast, directly across from the Salem Police Department headquarters.
Police identified the suspect as Tony Latrell Williams, 42, of Bend, Oregon. Williams was arrested outside the shelter and booked into Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree attempted murder and 11 counts of second-degree assault. He was denied bail during his court appearance on June 2 and had several outbursts during the proceedings.
The attack began in the shelter’s lobby during the standard check-in process. Williams had stayed at the 150-bed facility the previous night and was returning for a second night when the violence erupted. According to Craig Smith, executive director of Union Gospel Mission, the confrontation started when Williams was supposed to hand over his belongings to staff for overnight safekeeping, which is standard protocol at the facility.
Smith told NBC News that “something set him off, and he evidently had a knife in his bag.” The executive director confirmed that the entire incident was captured on video surveillance, and all footage was turned over to police investigators.
Williams used an eight-inch knife in the attack, which was recovered by investigators. The assault began with both employees at the front desk being stabbed. One employee remains in critical condition, while the other suffered multiple stab wounds but is expected to recover. After targeting the staff members, Williams continued his rampage throughout the mission before moving outside to attack additional victims at random.
Witness Alan Humphreys described the chaotic scene, indicating that as Williams moved through the area, people were falling to the ground before he realized the man had a knife. Humphreys noted that Williams inflicted severe injuries, including cutting one victim from the belly button to the sternum. Another witness, Malik Law, reported seeing Williams stab at least seven people as everyone tried to move out of his way.
Bobby Epperly, who was on the second floor during the attack, described seeing Williams outside screaming at traffic while holding the knife. Epperly said he didn’t realize people had been stabbed inside until he went downstairs and discovered blood throughout the building. He characterized the scene as resembling a horror movie.
Emergency responders transported 11 victims to Salem Health hospital with varying types of injuries. A 12th victim was later discovered at the hospital, having arrived independently. As of June 2, five men remained hospitalized in critical condition. At least one staff member was among the injured.
Police investigation revealed that Williams had been traveling on a bus from Portland to Deschutes County but got off in Salem before the stabbing occurred. Court records show Williams has an extensive criminal history in Coos and Deschutes counties dating back to 2002, including a previous charge for attempted murder in Coos County in 2004.
Angela Hedrick, spokesperson for the Salem Police Department, indicated that detectives were gathering facts in what she described as a very fresh incident. The shelter remained closed following the attack, with a sign posted on the door indicating closure until further notice. Blood was still visible inside the entrance the morning after the incident.
Union Gospel Mission is a faith-based organization founded in 1952 by local Christian businessmen to serve Salem’s homeless population. The Men’s Mission facility where the attack occurred opened in 2021, replacing the organization’s aging 1960s-era downtown facility. The shelter provides housing for up to 150 homeless men along with support services including food, clothing, case management, and counseling.
Video footage circulated on social media showing Williams being arrested outside the shelter. Witnesses described him lying on the pavement as officers took him into custody. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the unprovoked attack.
