The safety of Washington, DC’s inner cities and downtown areas has been brought into question following the brutal stabbing of Senator Rand Paul’s staffer on Saturday. The attack, which occurred just blocks away from the Capitol Building, has drawn national attention and sparked calls for better law enforcement in the area. The suspect, who had a history of criminal behavior, had been released from prison just one day before the attack. This incident is not the first to occur on H Street Northeast, with previous incidents highlighting the need for better safety measures in the area. The attack has left many lawmakers and citizens concerned about the increasing violence in the nation’s capital.

Senator Rand Paul’s Staffer Brutally Stabbed in Random Attack in Washington, DC

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of H Street on Saturday evening just before 5:30 p.m. for a reported stabbing. Senator Rand Paul later confirmed on Monday that his staffer was randomly and brutally stabbed around 5:15 p.m. on the same block of H Street Northeast in Washington, DC, just a few blocks away from the Capitol Building, after leaving Sol Mexican Grill.

The Attack and Aftermath

Paul’s staffer, who remains unidentified, was treated for “stab wounds” and seen by the accompanying witness as “bleeding from the head.” The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening wounds. The suspect had “popped out of the corner” and stabbed the staffer multiple times. The victim “was able to grab [the suspect’s] arms,” and the witness with him tackled the suspect, “leading to a struggle between the parties.” The victim and the witness then ran as the suspect fled.

The Suspect and His Criminal History

The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Glynn Neal, told law enforcement that “voices” in his head told him to carry out the attack, according to NBC4 Washington. Neal was charged with assault with intent to kill in connection to the attack. Neal had been released from prison on Friday, the day before the attack on Paul’s staffer. According to Fox 5 DC, he had been incarcerated for 12 years for “compelling two North Carolina women to engage in prostitution through the use of threats.”

Senator Rand Paul’s Statement and National Attention

On Monday, Rand Paul issued a statement asking for prayer and privacy. The attack drew national attention, and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) tweeted, “The violence in Washington DC is absolutely out of control. It’s time to get our inner cities and downtowns under control!” Mike Davis, former Chief Counsel for Nominations to Judiciary Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), described the lawlessness on H Street Northeast and stated district politicians won’t let local police do their jobs.

Paul would go on to add in a statement on Monday:

“This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C.,”

“I ask you to join Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions.”

Similar Incidents on H Street Northeast

The attack occurred on the same street in the district where Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) was recently accosted in her apartment building. Last year on H Street, a Washington Football Team player was shot in an attempted carjacking. According to Mike Davis, H Street Northeast has devolved into a crime-ridden hellhole, with H and 8th becoming an open-air drug market. Homeless men harass patrons on the sidewalks, and trash is everywhere. DC police officers tell Davis that it’s because district politicians won’t let them do their jobs.