Police in Washington DC are on the hunt for a man who stabbed a female jogger to death without any provocation on Tuesday night.
As Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday, 35-year-old Wendy Karina Martinez was out for an evening run near Logan Circle just before 8pm when she was attacked by a knife-wielding stranger at the intersection of 11th and O streets.
Martinez suffered serious stabs wounds but managed to stumble to a nearby Chinese restaurant, with blood gushing from a laceration to her neck.
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
Patrons at the eatery rushed to her aid and attempted to help her before paramedics arrived on the scene.
Martinez was taken to an area hospital, where she later died.
Newsham said 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.
Newsham said it is believed 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 walking in the area around the time of the deadly attack.
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
The Metro police chief said Martinez was an avid jogger who was known for running for miles around DC. Martinez 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.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Martienz 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 the 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