Charges: 1 still unconscious after 3 stabbed in Christmas halfway house attack The N. Seattle rampage was allegedly spurred by methamphetamine-induced paranoia, cops say

One man remains unconscious as of Thursday after three men were stabbed in a North Seattle halfway house late Christmas evening. One man remains unconscious as of Thursday after three men were stabbed in a North Seattle halfway house late Christmas evening. Photo: Edward McCain/Getty Images Photo: Edward McCain/Getty Images Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close Charges: 1 still unconscious after 3 stabbed in Christmas halfway house attack 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

One man remains unconscious as of Thursday after three men were stabbed in a North Seattle halfway house late Christmas evening.

Michael Donery, 48, was charged Thursday with three counts of first-degree assault. Detectives believe he stabbed roommates at the homeless shelter in a methamphetamine-induced episode of paranoia. Donery had most recently been released from jail Oct. 27.

Police say they were called to the United States Mission halfway house at 931 N. 104th St. and found Donery in front of the building, carrying a knife and covered in blood. He claimed he attacked "suspects" out of "self-defense," according to the incident report.

Entering the building, officers found a 41-year-old man lying on a table with stab wounds to the back and neck. They then found a 25-year-old man naked in the bathroom with wounds to the front and back of his torso. The third victim was a 45-year-old man with several wounds to his back and neck, police say.

A witness told police that he saw a scuffle among men in the bathroom and living room on one of the floors of the building. He initially thought the attacker was throwing punches, but after asking the manager to call police, saw the bleeding wounds of one of the victims and realized he'd been stabbed, police reports say.

RELATED: Man stabbed in International District

Donery allegedly told detectives he was smoking methamphetamine with the 25-year-old man when the man and others started indicating they were "trying to take him out" and wanted him to die. He then spoke of being ganged up on and being "one against a mob," reports say. He allegedly claimed to use "reasonable, necessary force" to defend himself.

Detectives believe he exhibited paranoia indicative of prolonged methamphetamine use, according to the incident report.

Donery had suffered a cut to a pinky and received stitches before going to King County Jail.

Two of the three victims were unconscious when they were sent to Harborview Medical Center, but one regained consciousness. One victim, the 25-year-old, was naked in the shower during the attack, while another, the 45-year-old, appeared to have been sleeping, prosecutors wrote.

RELATED: Charges: Man fatally stabbed during drug deal outside Auburn coffee stand

The 25-year-old reportedly told police that he was smoking methamphetamine with Donery and discussed moneymaking schemes before heading to the bathroom to take a shower. Donery later entered the bathroom and attacked him with a knife, he claimed. The 41-year-old victim then intervened and tackled Donery, but Donery stabbed him, too, reports claim.

The 45-year-old was reportedly sleeping on the couch at the time of the attack. He suffered an open chest wound and deep back wounds. He was unconscious as of Thursday, but was listed in serious condition Friday.

The 25-year-old is in satisfactory condition and the 41-year-old was since released from Harborview, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Donery remains jailed on $1 million bail.

Lynsi Burton can be reached at lynsiburton@seattlepi.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LynsiBurton_PI.