Suspect arrested in Petworth stabbings All of the assaults occurred in the past seven weeks during late-night and early-morning hours as the victims walked alone. The assailant approached each of the victims from behind, grabbed them and stabbed them with a sharp object before running away. There was no clear motive and none of the victims was robbed, police said. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries, but the attacks have left the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood on edge.