Suspect charged in violent Volunteer Park attack

Eric Moody, 52, has been charged with first-degree assault after admitting to police that he brutally attacked a woman in Volunteer Park. The Seattle Police Department stated that Moody surrendered, declaring, “I need you to arrest me,” following the violent incident that occurred on August 15, 2025. Prosecutors described the assault as “random and senseless,” with the victim sustaining severe injuries, including 17 staples in her head and a broken arm. Moody struck her with a large stick at least ten times while she attempted to defend herself. Authorities located the weapon hidden nearby, which bore visible blood from the victim.

Moody, who attempted to alter his appearance before surrendering, has a limited criminal history, including a 2008 assault conviction and a 2012 case involving threats against then-Governor Christine Gregoire. He is being held in King County Jail on a $500,000 bail, and he has not yet entered a plea regarding the assault charges. The incident has raised concerns about public safety in the Capitol Hill area.