Ann Arbor Police Apprehend Suspect in University of Michigan Campus Stabbing

Ann Arbor police arrested 33-year-old Lagarien Thomas early Friday morning after an emergency alert was issued Wednesday night when he allegedly stabbed a person at the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion construction site on the University of Michigan campus.

The arrest concludes a two-day manhunt sparked by the campus safety division’s urgent warning to students and staff to avoid the Catherine Street and Zina Pitcher Place area after the attack prompted widespread concern across central Ann Arbor.

Key Developments

• Emergency alert issued by U-M Division of Public Safety & Security at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday advising community to remain vigilant and avoid the scene.
• Victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital; no further details on their condition have been released.
• Thomas was taken into custody at 11:34 p.m. Thursday following a coordinated search by Ann Arbor and U-M police units.
• Authorities say Thomas is now in custody without incident; there is no ongoing threat to the campus.

Police said Thomas attempted to gain unauthorized access to the pavilion under construction before confronting and stabbing an individual when denied entry. Witnesses reported seeing a trail of blood leading away from Couzens Hall across Catherine Street as campus safety teams issued their initial warning.

Campus officials emphasized that the swift alert and collaborative response between university and city law enforcement helped ensure student safety and culminated in Thomas’s arrest before dawn. Investigators continue to examine Thomas’s motives and the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

Community members with additional information are asked to contact Ann Arbor Police Department or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.