ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington man faces three felony charges after police said he attacked three men with a knife Monday night in the Crystal City area, injuring two of them before bystanders intervened and restrained him.
David Lamont Bates, 48, of Arlington, was arrested and charged with two counts of malicious wounding and one count of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the incident, according to the Arlington County Police Department.
Officers responded around 9:40 p.m. to investigate the report of a stabbing in the 2100 block of South Clark Street. Police said the preliminary investigation determined that man was removing items from a vehicle when Bates approached and attempted to stab him. The man escaped by running from the area.
Police said Bates then went to the 400 block of 23rd Street South, where he approached a second adult male while displaying a knife.
A struggle followed, during which the second man suffered a laceration that police described as non-life-threatening.
Bystanders intervened and restrained Bates until responding officers arrived and took him into custody, according to police.
While searching the surrounding area, officers found a third m man suffering from a laceration. Police did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the third man's injuries.
The second and third victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Investigators recovered two folding knives at the scene, police said.
Police did not indicate whether Bates knew any of the victims or what might have prompted the alleged attacks.
According to Virginia's Online Case Information System, Bates was formally charged Tuesday in Arlington General District Court.
Court records identify the two malicious wounding charges as Class 3 felonies under Virginia Code § 18.2-51. The attempted malicious wounding charge is listed as a Class 5 felony.
Bates was listed as being in custody as of Tuesday morning, according to court records. The court appointed a public defender to represent him.
An arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday was marked continued in all three cases. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2027, at 11:30 a.m. in Arlington General District Court, Courtroom 3B.
Bates has not been convicted of the new charges and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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