11-Year-Old Calls Man An “NPC,” Gets Stabbed In Return

Last month, on March 23, officers of Snohomish County responded to an emergency at a Dollar Tree in Everett, Washington. Authorities were made aware of an 11-year-old child who was stabbed, leaving the victim in critical condition. Witnesses claimed that the assailant also attempted to stab another minor. The assailant was found to be a 29-year-old man with no prior criminal history.

In court, prosecutors reported that the man was called an “NPC” by one of the children. The term NPC refers to a “non-playable character” and is most commonly used in video games. An example would be Osmund Saddler from Resident Evil 4. The context of this term on the internet, however, is a bit more insulting. Used to represent someone who doesn’t think for themselves, people have used it in relation to the Matrix.

The disparity here is that there are many different kinds of NPCs in video games. Characters of the supporting cast who play a part in the story are also called NPCs, yet they are provided with a proper personality and appeal to the players. Ultimately, these things come down to one’s own perception and how one looks at things based on their own understanding and experiences.

As reported by HeraldNet, the assailant chased the children into the store, where he stabbed one with a kitchen knife. After the attack, the suspect was found outside the building and was not combative with the authorities. He was later arrested for investigation of two counts of first-degree assault. Officers reportedly found a blue knife sheath in the pockets of the suspect’s pants. Said sheath indicated that the blade was 5 to 6 inches long.

The assault has left the 11-year-old with a partially collapsed lung and a pierced liver. The information comes from a GoFundMe launched by the child’s family in order to offset the medical expenses. One should be able to understand that physical injury is further compounded by mental trauma and other factors pertaining to the overall experience.

The goal set by the child’s family was $5000. It’s heartening to see that not only was it met, but has far exceeded the initial threshold. As of writing, the donations amassed sit at a total of $8493. We hope this alleviates the family’s stress to some degree and that all parties involved make a full recovery.