Vacuum-Wielding Witness Fought Off Man Accused of Triple Stabbing in Northeast Capitol Hill, Police Say

A person used a vacuum cleaner to disarm a man accused of a triple stabbing near Miner Elementary School over the weekend, according to a police affidavit.

Ernest Johnson, a 20-year-old Southeast D.C. resident, was arrested Wednesday for the triple stabbing that occurred before sunrise Saturday. Johnson broke into an apartment on the 1500 block of F St. NE and stabbed his ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend and her 75-year-old grandmother, according to the police report. Johnson’s ex-girlfriend’s sister and cousin also were in the apartment and witnessed the attack.

The cousin, who was sleeping on the living room couch, heard screaming coming from a locked bedroom and used a vacuum cleaner to break down the door. Once inside, the cousin reported seeing Johnson standing over his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

The cousin then hit Johnson with the vacuum, causing him to drop his knife and flee, the affidavit said.

It is unclear from the report when Johnson allegedly attacked the grandmother, who was stabbed multiple times.

Johnson lived at the address of the triple stabbing for a month when he dated the victim, the sister of Johnson’s ex-girlfriend said. In July, the ex-girlfriend filed a police report against Johnson, accusing him of assault.

The man was arrested on Wednesday and is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 2.

Dominique Winters, a lawyer representing Johnson, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

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