Juniper Blessing Identified in Fatal Stabbing as 31-Year-Old Suspect Awaits Homicide Charges
Updated
Updated · Them · May 15
Juniper Blessing Identified in Fatal Stabbing as 31-Year-Old Suspect Awaits Homicide Charges
10 articles · Updated · Them · May 15
Juniper Blessing, a 19-year-old University of Washington student, was publicly identified after she was fatally stabbed Sunday in the laundry room of an off-campus apartment building near campus.
Christopher Michael Leahy, 31, turned himself in to police and is expected to be arraigned on homicide charges as students and friends mourn Blessing’s death.
Red Square on Thursday filled with candles, flowers, notes and trans flags, while classmates, family and friends described Blessing as kind, ambitious and deeply loved.
UW Trans Collective plans a private campus healing gathering on Saturday, underscoring how the killing has shaken trans students in Seattle and beyond.
Was this brutal stabbing a random attack, or the deadly result of a nationwide climate of anti-trans hate?
Could a student's murder have been prevented if warnings about a stalker and a broken lock were heeded?
40 Stab Wounds: The Killing of Juniper Blessing, Legal Developments, and the University of Washington’s Response
Overview
Seattle police have identified Christopher Michael Leahy as the suspect in the May 10th murder of a University of Washington student, marking a major step in the investigation. Authorities released his photos and asked the public for help in locating him. The victim suffered over 40 stab wounds, showing the brutality of the crime. As of May 16, 2026, the legal process is moving forward, with Leahy’s next court appearance scheduled soon. This case has deeply affected the university community, raising concerns about campus safety and support for those impacted by the tragedy.