An aide to Republican senator Rand Paul was “brutally attacked in broad daylight” in Washington DC over the weekend, his office has said.
City police officers responded to a stabbing in the north-eastern suburbs of DC at 5:17pm on Saturday, finding the victim collapsed and bleeding from multiple knife wounds, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
A police report seen by The Independent names the victim as Phillip Todd, a staffer on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, of which Mr Paul is the chief Republican member.
Officers arrested a 42-year-old man named Glynn Neal in connection with the incident, charging him with assault with intent to kill. Mr Todd was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
According to Fox 5 DC, Mr Neal had just been released from prison the day before the stabbing, after a 12-year sentence for using threats to force two North Carolina women into prostitution.
“This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington DC,” said Mr Paul on Monday.
“I ask you to join [my wife] Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions.
“We are relieved to hear the suspect has been arrested. At this time we would ask for privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery.”
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Todd’s uncle Tim Todd said that he was “resting well” after suffering damage to his spleen, abdomen, skull, brain, and lung.
“Abdomen surgery went well this morning,” said Tim Todd. “Doctors are concerned about possible seizures for the next month resulting from the deep knife wound to the head...
“The police caught the homeless man that committed this horrible crime. So at least for the time being, this homeless man has a home. Continued prayers for Phillip are greatly appreciated!”
According to the MPD’s report, and a more detailed affidavit seen by Law & Crime, Mr Todd was walking down the street with a friend after leaving a Mexican restaurant early on Saturday evening when the attacker “popped out” from a corner where he was hiding.
The attacker allegedly jumped on top of Mr Todd, grappling with him and stabbing him repeatedly, before being pushed off him by the friend. The pair then fled eastward down the street, while the attacker “casually stood up and walked away” west.
Despite his extensive injuries, Mr Todd was reportedly still conscious in hospital, and was able to tell local detective that he did not know the assailant and did not know why he had been attacked.
According to Law & Crime, the affidavit says that Mr Neal’s mobile phone was found at the scene, allowing detectives to trace him back to his home.
Mr Neal allegedly told detectives that “a voice was telling him that someone was going to get him for all the things he [had] done”, so he decided to wait in ambush for the someone.
This story was updated on Tuesday 28 March 2023 to add additional details.
