Seattle man charged with first-degree murder in connection with stabbing of trans college student

On May 10, 19-year-old Juniper Blessing was found stabbed to death in the laundry room at the student housing complex where she lived. A witness told police that a man had followed her in, and Seattle police later released surveillance footage from the laundry room. The suspect, Christopher Leahy, turned himself in to police in Bellevue, Washington, after the photo was released and tips were called in. He was booked into jail and held on $10 million bail.

Documents obtained by KOMO state that Leahy was charged with first-degree murder on May 18. The Daily UW reports Leahy and his attorney were not present at the hearing.

The charging documents allege Leahy “acted with premeditated intent,” KOMO reports. Investigators believe Leahy could be connected to reported prowling incidents in the area. Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecutor’s Office said, “Police indicate that there were attempts by the defendant to try to enter private homes in Ravenna in the days before the homicide. There was at least one other campus building that police say he attempted to get into before the death of Juniper on the 10th.”

According to McNerthney, there is no evidence to suggest Blessing’s killing was a hate crime, per KOMO. Blessing was transgender, but McNerthney said she appeared to have been chosen at random. Fingerprints found in the blood smears in the laundry room allegedly connected Leahy to the killing.

Following the charges being filed, KOMO reports Blessing’s family shared a statement that said, “Today and every day, we remain focused on our Juniper, whose loving spirit has no bounds. Juniper was a beautiful human being with a heart full of love, tolerance, talent, determination, and intellectual curiosity that was a light in our world and to the world at large.”

If Leahy is convicted, he faces 22 to 29 years behind bars, according to KOMO. The Daily UW reports he is scheduled to be arraigned on May 21.