Suspect hit by police car after stabbing three people and attacking one near Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Police arrested a Schoolcraft man Friday for stabbing three people and attacking another woman in the city overnight.

On Thursday at 10:10 p.m., the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of East Michigan Avenue. The investigation revealed that a suspect approached a group of people and attacked two of them with a knife. A 34-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman sustained severe stab wounds to the head and neck.

Both women were taken to a nearby hospital, where their condition was reported as stable on Friday.

Officers provided video and identified the suspect, later identified by prosecutors as William Sylvester Richardson, 39, of Schoolcraft. Meanwhile, a 25-year-old woman reported being attacked by Richardson just before 10 p.m. Thursday. She said she was walking through the Kalamazoo Mall when he punched her in the face.

Officers began searching for Richardson using a police dog and drones.

At 3:46 a.m. Friday, a fourth victim was admitted to Bronson Hospital with a stab wound to the shoulder. The 51-year-old man said he was stabbed by Richardson while he was in Bronson Park. The man was hospitalized with serious injuries.

While officers were searching for Richardson, they were alerted by a citizen that Richardson had just been seen in the area of ​​Water Street and the Kalamazoo Mall. Officers located Richardson in the area and a foot chase ensued. During the pursuit, Richardson was struck by a patrol car, ending the pursuit and allowing officers to arrest him.

Richardson was hospitalized in stable condition due to his injuries.

Due to the force used to stop the fleeing suspect with the police car, Michigan State Police were called to investigate. Per KDPS policy, the officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending a review by Kalamazoo Public Safety.

After his release from the hospital, Richardson is being held in the Kalamazoo County Jail. He is charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and assault.

According to police, Richardson appears to have acted alone.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the KDPS Criminal Investigation Division by phone at (269) 337-8139, anonymously through the Kalamazoo Silent Observer hotline at (269) 343-2100, through the P3Tips app, or online at www.KalamazooSilentObserver.com.