Argument leads to stabbing at USDA headquarters
A contract employee for the Agriculture Department was stabbed 11 a.m. Tuesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The Federal Protective Service is looking for the suspect, who knew the victim.
The victim and suspect had an altercation shortly before the stabbing, which occurred inside Agriculture's headquarters, said Julie Quick, a department spokeswoman.
"There is no reason to think this was a random act of violence," she said.
Quick said the Agriculture building, located at 1400 Independence Ave. SW, was secured for about one hour after the stabbing, and no one was able to leave or enter. She said she was not aware that anyone had been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesman for the Federal Protective Service said the agency was on top of the issue, but was unable to provide additional information.
COMMENTS
- This is one of the very serious issues of outsourcing that most folks don't think about. I read in today's Washington Post that folks at the South Building don't understand how something like this could happen. I've been dealing with violence in the workplace issues for over 10 years. It is rare for two federal employees to reach this level and there is a knifing or shooting on federal property. I've seen contract employees go after each other or after federal employees too many times. As we outsource more and more work to the private sector all I can say is get used to it. And the gov't can't fire a contract employee, only the contractor can do that! HR Specialist GovExec.com reader Posted December 8, 2004 8:37 AM
