1. Elijah Islam Safadi hero
2. Manassas stabbing survivor Elijah Islam Safadi.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Heroic Man Saves Lives in Manassas Stabbing Incident

MANASSAS, Va. — The family of Elijah Islam Safadi, who tragically lost his life in a stabbing incident at a Manassas trade school, is mourning the loss of their beloved son. Witnesses recount his heroic efforts in saving lives during the terrifying ordeal.

Prince William County Police have released details of the incident that took place at a Manassas training facility on Tuesday. Responding officers were forced to shoot and kill the knife-wielding assailant.

Amidst their grief, Safadi’s family is calling him a hero. Outside the trade school, a small memorial has been set up to honor his memory. Safadi’s aunt, Karen Montanez, expressed her sorrow and shared a statement with WUSA9 about her nephew.

“He was a great person. He dedicated himself to his work as an electrician, and he loved his five brothers dearly. He was also excited to become a father. Elijah is survived by his stepfather, William Hatchett, his mother, Michelle Montanez-Hatchett, his biological father, Hicham Safadi, his brothers Julian Montanez, Brandon Hatchett, Jalen Hatchett, Isaiah Safadi, and Zachariah Safadi. He was at the school seeking additional certifications,” the statement read.

According to family members, Safadi was in the classroom with his twin brother when the attack occurred. He bravely helped save his brother and other students from harm.

One student who was present during the incident recounted how Safadi offered aid to one of the injured students. The traumatic event has left the students in shock as they struggle to comprehend the horrific incident.

Investigation Details and Ongoing Questions

Police reports indicate that when officers arrived at the scene, they encountered the armed assailant at the entrance door. They repeatedly ordered the man, later identified as 26-year-old Philip Austin Brant of Woodbridge, to drop the knife. However, Brant moved towards the officers, forcing them to open fire.

While police assessed Brant’s condition, other officers began searching for the victims of the stabbing. The preliminary investigation revealed that the attack took place in a classroom within the training center. Brant was present in the classroom along with Safadi and several other students. For reasons still under investigation, Brant retrieved a knife from his backpack and repeatedly stabbed Safadi. When other students fled, Brant pursued Safadi and continued his attack. He then proceeded to another classroom and stabbed another man.

The second victim, a 23-year-old from Fairfax, remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Brant was pronounced dead at the scene. The motive behind the attack is still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.

Following standard procedure, both officers who fired upon Brant have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation led by the Critical Incident Response (CIRT) team. The officers involved in the incident have not been identified, but one has five years of experience, while the other has 1.5 years of experience.

The Prince William County Police Department is urging anyone with information related to the case to contact their tip line at 703-792-7000.

A Final Farewell to a Hero

Safadi’s family has announced that his funeral will take place on Thursday, as they bid farewell to their beloved son and remember him as the hero he was.

If you have any information about this incident or any other news tips, we encourage you to reach out to us by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.

Download the WUSA9 app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to stay updated on this story and more.

If you have a streaming device, you can also add the free WUSA9+ app to your account. For Roku users, search for WUSA9 in the Roku store. For Apple TV and Fire TV users, search for “WUSA9” to find and add the app to your account. Fire TV users can also have the app delivered directly to their device through Amazon.

To receive daily curated top stories from WUSA9, subscribe to our newsletter by visiting our website.

.

1. Elijah Islam Safadi heroically saved lives during Manassas stabbing
2. Family of Elijah Islam Safadi grateful for his life-saving actions during Manassas stabbing.