A 34-year-old Detroit-area woman was fatally stabbed Sunday afternoon while taking a break from work in downtown Detroit, police said. The woman, identified as Jaquoya Wix, was attacked in an alley near Woodward Avenue and East Congress Street.
The stabbing was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, in the area behind businesses along the 600 block of Woodward Avenue. Wix was working at a nearby Chipotle when she went outside during her break, according to information released after the attack.
Police said Wix encountered a man in the alley who approached her and stabbed her multiple times. She managed to get away from the immediate area and reached a nearby business, where she collapsed. She was taken to a hospital but later died from her injuries.
The attacker fled through the alley after the stabbing. A worker at another nearby business saw the man with a weapon and attempted to follow him, but the suspect escaped before officers arrived.
Investigators then turned to surveillance cameras and other downtown technology to track the suspect’s movements. Police located a man in the area of Woodward Avenue and State Street roughly 20 minutes after the stabbing and took him into custody.
Police said the suspect did not have the knife when he was arrested. Investigators believe the weapon connected to the stabbing was recovered and was being processed as evidence.
Authorities have not publicly established that Wix and the suspect knew each other. Investigators said there appeared to have been very little interaction between the two immediately before the attack. The investigation into what led to the stabbing remains ongoing.
Wix’s death has also left behind a 15-year-old daughter who attends school in Detroit. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said the teenager and Wix’s family are facing an immeasurable loss following the killing.
Family members have also started raising financial support following Wix’s death, with the effort intended to help with funeral expenses and support for her daughter.
The attack prompted a significant police and investigative response in the downtown area. Officers remained at the scene Sunday as they collected evidence and spoke with people who may have witnessed what happened.
Police have not released all details surrounding the case, including a final determination of the motive. The investigation is continuing as detectives review available evidence and work to establish the circumstances leading up to the fatal stabbing.
