Police say a double stabbing in 24th Ave E apartment building appears to have been an act of self defense.

Seattle Fire was called to the building near 24th and Madison just after 5 PM Saturday to the reported stabbing where two people were reported suffering wounds. Seattle Fire says the patients were reported as an 18-year-old transported to Harborview in serious condition and a 22-year-old who suffered less serious injuries.

Police say the incident began as an altercations between the neighboring tenants of the apartment building that “escalated into a burglary and a stabbing” —

The victim tenant said that he got into a verbal altercation with tenants that live down the hall from him. When the altercation ended he went into his apartment and shut the door. A short time later two of the tenants he had been in an argument with knocked on his door. The victim opened the door but when he saw who it was, he tried to close it. The suspect tenants overpowered him and forced their way inside and began to assault him. The victim retreated into his back bedroom but the suspects continued to follow him and assault him. At this point the victim pulled out a pocketknife and slashed out at his attackers, cutting both of them in the process.

Police say the person with the knife called 911 at that point and SPD and Seattle Fire responded.

SPD says the two suspects were to be booked on investigation of burglary upon their release from medical care.

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