Shocking footage of a Washington DC woman who was stabbed to death on Tuesday night shows her running into a Chinese takeaway store for help.
The video, obtained by Fox News, shows Wendy Karina Martinez, 35, dash into the restaurant as blood gushed from a laceration to her neck. While some ran away from the horrific scene, other patrons rushed to her side.
She was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Martinez was out for an evening run near Logan Circle just before 8pm when she was attacked by a knife-wielding male stranger at the intersection of 11th and P streets, Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said.
Martinez’s assailant is still on the run. Police believe he acted alone and randomly.
Bloody attack: Jogger Wendy Martinez, 35 (left), was stabbed to death in Washington DC Tuesday evening. Police are looking for this man seen in a surveillance video screenshot
Young professional: Martinez worked as a chief of staff at a DC-based technology and management company
D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham described the event as: ‘very disturbing’.
‘You have a young woman out here exercising… in a very safe neighborhood,’ he said.
‘You have a lot of people out here, who are enjoying dinner across the street. It’s unsettling.’
The Georgetown graduate had just become engaged just last week, according to her heartbroken family, with a storybook proposal and a emerald ring.
A photo from the happy occasion shows fiance Daniel Hincapie in a blue suit, down on one knee, with a ring box open as she stood beaming.
Family say she was excited to be planning her wedding to the DC bank executive.
The young executive got engaged just last week to her fiance Daniel Hincapie. Family say she was already excited to be planning their wedding
She beamed as she showed off her new emerald and diamond sparkler just days before her brutal murder
Martinez lived not far from the crime scene and was an avid jogger known to run for miles. Her Facebook account features photos from past races.
Police believe the attacker, described as a black man, did not know Martinez and that it was most likely a random act of violence and a ‘singular incident.’
The chief said the suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeve mustard-colored shirt, dark-colored sweatpants, white socks and light-colored sandals.
Police have released surveillance video showing the person of interest casually walking in the area around the time of the deadly attack, swinging an arm.
Fox 5 DC reported that the knife used in the stabbing has been recovered at the scene.
The jogger was attacked as she waited to cross the street at the intersection of 11th and O streets
Martinez, seen here in photos with her now-fiance Daniel, was an avid jogger who was known for running for miles around DC
Martinez, whose family described her as the ‘light of our lives’, had a Master’s degree in Latin-American studies form Georgetown
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Her family released a statement after the shocking murder, describing the ‘light of our lives’ daughter who was killed. They said in party:
‘Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional. Everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be. She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé, Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week.’
According to her LinkedIn profile, Martinez had a Master’s degree in Latin American studies and conflict resolution from Georgetown University. For the last two years, she had worked as chief of staff at the technology and management company FiscalNote.
Martinez’s employer addressed news of her violent death in a tweet sent out on Wednesday.
‘The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night,’ the message read. ‘Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy’s family and friends.’
Police are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to suspect’s arrest