1 dead, multiple injured in stabbing attack on UT-Austin campus

A man is arrested after a fatal stabbing attack on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, Monday, May 1, 2017. Police later named the suspect as Kendrex J. White. A man is arrested after a fatal stabbing attack on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, Monday, May 1, 2017. Police later named the suspect as Kendrex J. White. Photo: Ray Arredondo‏ Photo: Ray Arredondo‏ Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close 1 dead, multiple injured in stabbing attack on UT-Austin campus 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

A student at the University of Texas at Austin, wielding a large Bowie-like hunting knife, is suspected of stabbing four other students on campus Monday afternoon, killing one of them, police said.

Kendrex J. White, a 21-year-old junior from Killeen, offered no resistance when officers tackled him within minutes of the stabbings.

The four victims — three white males and one Asian male ages 20 and 21 — were attacked separately and without apparent provocation, police said.

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The deceased victim has been identified as Harrison Brown, a graduate of the Graham Independent School District in 2016, according to a Facebook post from the school district. The names of the three surviving students, who were treated at University Medical Center Brackenridge, were not immediately released.

"The news of Harrison Brown’s (GHS Class of 2016) passing is heartbreaking. There are no words adequate enough to express the sorrow felt by Graham ISD and the community of Graham for this loss. Harrison was an inspiration to everyone around him," the post read.

The four victims, three white males and one Asian male between the ages of 20 and 21, are not believed to be connected to each other, said UT-Austin Police Chief David Carter . The police chief could not confirm that incident was related to recent threats made against the university's Greek community or if White was part of any group or possible motivation.

More than 25 witnesses are working with police as the investigation is ongoing.

White attended Killeen High School and graduated in 2014, according to a Facebook page that appears to belong to him. On what appears to be his Twitter account, he said he was a "future doctor" studying biology.

University President Greg Fenves said the university would actively investigate the stabbings and that classes were canceled for the remainder of Monday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," he said. "This breaks my heart that any of our students are touched by tragedy."

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Rachel Prichett, a UT freshman, had just left her last class of the day when she walked by the gym.

"I heard a couple people scream," she recalled about an hour later. "I thought they were joking with each other, until I turned around and saw a guy ... holding a small machete-type thing."

Prichett saw the attacker walk up behind another man, grab his shoulder and stab him in the back. She said that attack happened so close to her that she could have reached out and touched the victim.

"Then I turned around and started running," she said. "While I was running, I saw this guy sitting at a table that was slumped over and bloody. Apparently no one had seen him get hurt. Someone was just walking up to him and seeing and saying, 'Everybody get out.' "

Prichett said the attacker had escaped attention by blending into the busy campus scene.

"He was just walking around very calmly with the knife down by his side," Prichett remembered after she reunited with her boyfriend near the scene of the attack. "You wouldn't have seen it unless you were paying attention."

Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the stabbings and a shooting in Dallas in an emailed statement.

"Our prayers go out to all those affected by today's tragic events," he said. "I have been briefed by the Department of Public Safety on both incidents, and have also talked to University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves. As the investigations into these heinous crimes continue, I have offered all available state resources to both Dallas and the University of Texas to assist in any effort."

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After White was apprehended, there were reports of a separate stabbing in West Campus and possible bomb threats at the Moody College of Communications and Belo Center for New Media.

The UT Student Government said the area around the buildings in North Campus were reopened after a bomb threat was found to not be credible. Carter said he did not know the specifics of the reported bomb threat.

Additionally, KVR News, a student newscast, reported a banner reading "Tuition pays for bombs" was hung up on the sky bridge connecting Belo and Moody. Carter said the banner was not connected to the stabbings.

An official university alert went out to students at 2:14 p.m., which said the suspect was in custody and there was no immediate threat to the campus.

Before the university alert was sent, several students took to Twitter Monday afternoon in a panic, saying there was a possible stabbing or shooting near Jester West Residence Hall and the Perry-Castañeda Library.

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Staff writer Nicole Cobler contributed to this story.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5