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Man claimed to be Jesus before stabbing 3 people, hiding in ceiling in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Three people were stabbed early Monday morning in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, and the suspect was found hiding in a ceiling, police said.

The stabbing happened about 1:30 a.m. along Brownsville Road. One of the victims called 911.

(Below is a map showing the area where the stabbing happened.)

When police and paramedics found the three people who were stabbed, they were told that the person who stabbed them ran toward an apartment building’s basement, officials said.

Officers and a K-9 unit found the suspect, 33-year-old Rami Jasim, in the basement hiding in the ceiling, police said. He was arrested and charged with three counts each of criminal attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

The two men and one woman who were stabbed were taken to a hospital. One was in critical condition, one was in serious condition and one was in stable condition.

At the hospital, one of the victims told police he met Jasim a week ago and invited him to stay with him because he was homeless, according to a criminal complaint. He said they were casually talking about the Gregorian calendar until things turned violent and Jasim stabbed him, claiming he was Jesus.

Jasim then stabbed the other victims until they wrestled the knife away from him and got help, the complaint said.