Update: Salem State Stabbing Suspect Identified as Student at University

Salem, MA - One suspect was in custody following the stabbing of a professor at Meier Hall at Salem State University late Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday morning, the suspect was identified as 24-year-old Stephen Chastain, a senior at the university.

Chastain was scheduled to be arraigned on an attempted murder charge as well as assault with a dangerous weapon on Thursday.

Shortly after 5:15 p.m., Salem University police were alerted to the stabbing at Meier Hall at 358 Lafayette Street by a university staffer, according to university police.

Chastain was taken into custody by university police shortly after the incident. Chastain is a biology major and commuter student, according to university officials.

The victim identified as English professor Pierre (Peter) Walker, who was coherent at the scene. There was no known connection between Walker and the student, according to an email sent out to the Salem State community by President Patricia Maguire Meservey.

According to the Salem State University president, Walker was in stable condition at the hospital.

"The suspect was apprehended quickly, negating any additional threat to the community. Within five minutes, the sole suspect was identified, pursued and apprehended," Meserve stated in the email to the university community. "Our immediate focus was providing emergency medical care to the victim and securing the crime scene. To reduce the fears and concerns in the community resulting from the incident and large police presence, we sent a mass notification to our community as classes were ending."

Photo credit: WHDH, 7-News