Stabbing Assault in Columbus, Ohio -- Suspect and 3 Others Critically Wounded

Marh 14, 2012 — -- A man armed with three knives went on a rampage in downtown Columbus, Ohio, today, stabbing four people before he was shot multiple times by a police officer.

Grant Medical Center in Columbus confirmed that three victims, including the suspect, had been critically wounded and had undergone surgery. A fourth victim was in less serious condition.

The bloody assault began inside the Continental Center, which houses the Miami-Jacobs Career College. According to Columbus Police Sgt. Rich Weiner, a "confrontation" occurred in the admissions office where one victim was stabbed.

As onlookers came to the victim's aid and disarmed the assailant, he pulled out another knife. The fight spilled into the lobby of the building where two more people were stabbed, one of them a Good Samaritan who tried to intervene.

A witness described the scene to ABC affiliate WSYX as "pandemonium" and said the knife-wielding man "went running out of the building still trying to stab people." It is not clear where the fourth victim was wounded. This same witness also reported that a Columbus police officer who quickly responded to the 911 call told the suspect to "freeze" and used a Taser on him. When he continued to advance toward the officer, she shot the suspect "several times."

Two knives were found near the suspect outside the building, and another was found inside. A worker at the Continental Center called the situation "very bloody and scary."

Police said they were reviewing surveillance camera video footage that might have captured the violence.

Chuck Vella, a spokesman for Miami-Jacobs Career College, knew nothing of a reported connection between the man and the college, and told ABC News "we can't imagine anything like this ever happening here. It is just horrendous."