Man fatally stabbed inside car on I-5 in Federal Way identified, suspect faces charges

FEDERAL WAY, Washington — The man who was fatally stabbed during a violent incident that left three others injured on Interstate 5 on June 26 has been identified.

At approximately 2:40 p.m., the Washington State Patrol received calls regarding a domestic violence incident along northbound I-5 in Federal Way. Further calls were reported that there appeared to be multiple injuries to people in and near a black BMW.

When police arrived on scene, they found a man sitting in the driver's seat of the stolen BMW, suffering from a large stab wound to his neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Ryan Lemay, a 19-year-old Patriot from Federal Way.

According to WSP, they found a man and a woman who had walked away from the vehicle and were suffering from stab wounds, as well as a man on the ground with “multiple” gunshot wounds.

The two men and the woman were transported to local hospitals for their injuries.

WSP Trooper Rick Johnson told KOMO News it was a confusing scene at first because it was initially reported as an accident.

WATCH | Driver dead, three others injured in stabbing, shooting inside stolen BMW on NB I-5 in Federal Way

Johnson said there was no indication anything happened outside of the stolen vehicle and “everything appeared to be contained in one vehicle.”

WSP detectives determined the man who was shot was in the back seat of the vehicle. They believe he stabbed the driver and two other passengers.

Two lanes of northbound I-5 and the exit ramp to the rest area were closed for more than nine hours. The Washington State Department of Transportation reported a backup of more than 6 miles in Fife and Pierce County as of 5:30 p.m.

WSP detectives and the Crime Response Team did not leave the scene until 11 p.m. During the investigation, they found a stolen handgun outside the BMW.

Police are still investigating the causes of this deadly altercation. The suspect is still in hospital awaiting medical clearance. Police said once he is, he will be booked into the King County Jail for investigation of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Johnson asked anyone with information about the incident or dashcam video from the area at the time of the incident to contact WSP.