PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jeremy Christian, the suspect in the stabbings that killed two people and injured another Friday on a MAX train, was involved in a separate altercation with a woman at a TriMet station the day before the attack.
According to a source who wished to remain anonymous, Christian threw a bottle of Gatorade at a black woman on Thursday night at about 11:25 p.m. at the Interstate Rose Quarter Station. The woman then sprayed Christian with a can of mace.
A spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau confirmed to KGW that detectives investigating the stabbings are aware of the incident.
Christian, 35, is being held on suspicion of aggravated murder, attempted murder, intimidation and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He was arrested a short time after the Friday attack.
Authorities say the Friday stabbing occurred after Christian yelled racial slurs at two young women, one of whom was wearing a hijab, and other men attempted to intervene.
The victims were identified Saturday as 53-year-old Rick John Best of Happy Valley, 23-year-old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche of Southeast Portland, and 21-year-old Micah David-Cole Fletcher, of Southeast Portland. Best and Meche were killed. Fletcher was released from the hospital Monday and is recovering from his injuries.
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