Community members are mourning the death of a Trumbull native and former intern for Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes who was stabbed and killed on the Metro in Washington, D.C. over the holiday weekend.
Kevin Sutherland, 24, was fatally stabbed while on his way to visit friends on the Fourth of July.
He had interned for Himes and worked on the staff of the congressman, who tweeted his disbelief Sunday after learning of Sutherland's death.
"Am absolutely heartbroken by the tragic loss of intern, staffer & wonderful friend, Kevin Sutherland," Himes wrote. "I've known few as selfless & decent."
Others in Trumbull echoed that sentiment.
"He was a wonderful, kind, intelligent, articulate young man who had a wonderful future ahead of him," said Vicky Tesoro, a Democratic member of the town council in Trumbull, where Sutherland grew up.
Tesoro remembered Sutherland, who attended Trumbull High School with her daughter, as someone who would help out with Democratic town politics and whom people thought had a bright future.
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"He was just a great guy, you know?" Tesoro said. "Young, enthusiastic, was a staunch advocate for people’s rights. He wanted to do the right thing. He’d be the first person out there trying to protect people’s rights. That’s what he was all about."
Police in Washington, D.C. have arrested Jasper Spires in connection with Sutherland's death. Investigators believe Spires stabbed Sutherland on the train in between stops during a robbery gone awry.
According to court documents, Spires had been arrested last Thursday on felony charges pertaining to robbery and violence. The charges were downgraded to a single misdemeanor, and Spires was released from custody Friday.
He allegedly killed Sutherland the next day.
Trumbull First Selectman said those facts are the most troubling.
"I think that the Washington Police Department and the prosecutor’s office really have a lot of explaining to do as to why that this person was released. Clearly, he had a propensity for violence. I believe he assaulted a police officer. Somebody needs to be held accountable for this," Herbst said.
Sutherland was a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C.
