NEWS: Norwegian Cruise Lines Employee Arrested for Alleged Stabbing Spree

Ntando Sogoni, 35, of South Africa, was arrested on May 7 in Juneau, Alaska after allegedly stabbing three individuals with a pair of medical scissors the day before.

According to reports, personnel aboard the Norwegian Encore saw Sogoni trying to deploy a lifeboat and took him to the medical center for evaluation. At that point, he “became irrational and attempted to leave,” attacking two security guards, a male nurse, and an elderly female patient. None had life-threatening injuries.

USA Today reports, “The attack occurred shortly before 2 a.m. PDT on Monday…The ship was west of Vancouver Island and roughly 16.5 miles from land at the time. Sogoni was held in the ship’s jail until Encore reached Juneau, Alaska, on Tuesday.”

A Norwegian spokesperson also told USA Today:

The ship’s security team escorted the crew member to the medical center for evaluation and assessment, where he became violent without provocation, attacking two other crew members and a guest. The security team quickly detained him, and the onboard medical staff treated those involved for non-life-threatening injuries.

The United States Attorney’s Office described the attack as follows:

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. He grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the woman multiple times in the arm, hand and face. 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 United States Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska:

Sogoni is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction in violation of 18 U.S.C. §113(a)(3). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Investigating the case are the FBI Anchorage Field Office and FBI Juneau Resident Agency, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant US Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting.

It’s important to remember that under maritime law, cruise lines are responsible for the intentional acts – like this one – of its crewmembers. In other words, cruise lines should be held legally accountable when their crewmembers cause injuries to guests and others.

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