Seattle police are looking for a suspect or suspects who slashed a man's neck in an attack last week on Capitol Hill.
The attack happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday on the corner of Republican and Bellevue streets.
The victim, Jon Rodda, 30, said he was walking home alone, drunk from a night out. He was six blocks away from his front door when he was attacked from behind. Someone using either a knife or a hatchet cut the back of his neck to his throat, leaving a gash six inches long and about two inches deep.
"I was in a lot of pain and realized I was close enough to home, so I started running," recalled Rodda. "I don't exactly know how it happened...The next thing I know I was in an ambulance, rushed to the hospital."
Rodda was taken to a hospital, where doctors said the wound missed his arteries and spine. After spending nearly a week in the hospital, he was released Monday.
"They said I'm lucky because of the proximity of the veins in my neck and my spine," said Rodda. "Looking back it might not have been the best idea walking home alone at night."
While on around-the-clock pain medication, Rodda is expected to be ok.
"All evidence points towards a random act, towards an opportunist," said Amy Harris, friend.
Rodda's friends said the attack is an eye opener. Being distracted, unaware of your surroundings can put you in danger.
"You need to be paying attention to what's around you because this could happen to anybody in any neighborhood," said Rodda, "even if you're only two blocks from your house."
Cynthia Andrews, who lives nearby, said she won't be walking her dog alone anymore, knowing the attack is out there.
"People forget that it happens in real life, but it's real and it can happen to you," said Andrews.
No matter where you live, police stress the importance of reporting anyone suspicious, even if it turns out to be nothing. Police planned to increase patrols in areas with more calls.
Meanwhile, police want to question two strangers the victim met that night. They are not considered suspects at this time. One is described as a white male, 5'9" tall and about 180 lbs. The other is described as a Hispanic male, 5'9" tall and 165 lbs.
If you have any information in the incident, you are asked to call police.
KING 5's Zahid Arab contributed to this report.
