WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- Police are investigating a stabbing that happened in Northeast D.C. on Thursday afternoon, leaving multiple people hurt.
In a social media post made at 3:45 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the incident happened in the area of Montello Avenue and Simms Place NE.
Four women and two men were taken to nearby hospitals and were in stable condition as of 5:15 p.m.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith called the assault "senseless."
Police said they found the suspect lying on the ground nearby and took him into custody without incident. The knife believed to be used in the stabbing was found near the suspect.
She said the suspect seemed to be in an altered mental state from an unknown substance.
While walking down the street, he reportedly started stabbing himself and then stabbed a female acquaintance, as well as other people standing outside on the block.
Two people tried intervening and were also stabbed.
"I will say this, even though we're grateful for their intervention, we would ask that individuals who see incidents such as this not intervene," Smith urged.
She said among the victims was a grandmother and her granddaughters.
The following roads were closed due to police activity:
- Montello Avenue between Mt. Olivet Road and Holbrook Terrace NE
- West Virginia Avenue between Mt. Olivet Road and Holbrook Terrace NE