Cruise Ship Worker Accused of Stabbing 3 People with Scissors

A cruise ship worker has been accused of stabbing three people with scissors while sailing to Alaska.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, the man from South Africa was arrested on Tuesday, May 7 after allegedly stabbing multiple people with medical scissors on May 6.

35-year-old Ntando Sogoni had reportedly been working on the ship when colleagues noticed him trying to release a lifeboat. The security team then contacted Sogoni and took him for an assessment in the vessel’s medical center.

“Upon arrival, Sogoni physically attacked a security guard and a male nurse inside an examination room and proceeded to enter another examination room where a woman, who is a U.S. citizen, was being examined,” the United States Attorney’s Office stated. 

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“He grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the woman multiple times in the arm, hand and face,” the statement continued. “He also stabbed two security guards who intervened — one in the head and one in the back and shoulders. Sogoni was detained and held in the ship’s jail prior to his arrest.”

Per the U.S. attorney, the defendant has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction.

Sogoni could face a maximum of  10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count if he is found guilty. 

“A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors,” the U.S. attorney’s office stated.

According to NBC News, an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy reported that Sogoni had recently been hired and joined the Norwegian Encore cruise liner on May 5 in Seattle.

Sogoni was arrested by the FBI on May 7 when the ship arrived in Juneau, Alaska.

Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for information.