2 killed, 2 injured in stabbings in 16th Street Mall area in Denver

DENVER — Two people were killed and two others were injured in a series of stabbings Saturday evening and Sunday night in the area of the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Police Department said. 

Three of the stabbings happened between 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday. One of the victims was killed. The two other victims sustained injuries that were not life threatening. 

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said Sunday afternoon that officers were able to link all three stabbings based on video and suspect descriptions. Police investigators said there did not appear to be a connection between the suspect and victims, and they have not developed a potential motive.

Around 8 p.m. Sunday, police said, a man was killed in a stabbing in the 1600-block of Market Street, which is just off the 16th Street Mall. 

A suspect was taken into custody after that fatal stabbing, police said. Investigators are still working to determine if that person was involved in the stabbings Saturday. 

Police said the first stabbing Saturday happened around 5:12 p.m. in the area of 16th and Tremont streets. It was reported to police around 6:20 p.m., after the victim went to the hospital on his own. His injuries were not life-threatening, and police said he was released from the hospital Sunday.

The stabbing that killed a woman Saturday happened around 5:17 p.m. in the area of 16th and California streets, police said. The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead Sunday morning. 

The third stabbing happened around 5:54 p.m. in the area of 16th and Lawrence streets, police said. The victim’s injuries were not life-threatening. 

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said the first 911 call came in at 5:20 p.m., and officers were on the scene at 5:23. 

Sunday, police released the below video of the suspect in Saturday’s stabbings. 

According to a family member who spoke with 9NEWS sister station KPNX in Phoenix, flight attendant Celinda Levno was the victim who died Saturday.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants sent out a release Sunday saying the Phoenix-based flight attendant, who began her career with America West in 1989, died in a “senseless tragedy” while on layover in downtown Denver.

The death did not happen at the downtown Denver layover hotel, but the association said crews who were laying over would be temporarily relocated to a hotel near Denver International Airport.

“Celinda’s love for her horses, friends, and family will always be remembered,” the association said in a statement. “We stand in support with Celinda’s family, friends, and our colleagues in Phoenix Inflight as they process this senseless tragedy.”

“We really have significant concern for the community, because these appear to be unprovoked attacks,” Thomas said Sunday. 

Police released the picture below of a potential suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

“I want to reiterate the concern that we share with the community, and that is that there’s someone out there who is indiscriminately stabbing people and causing significant harm,” Thomas said Sunday afternoon. “We recognize the concern that that causes for the community. We are doing all that we can to locate that individual and bring them to justice.”