In a shocking sequence of events, a federal employee unleashed a violent stabbing spree on a prominent interstate in the Washington, D.C. area, resulting in the tragic death of a woman and leaving three others injured. The assailant, identified as 32-year-old Jared Llamado, was subsequently shot dead by a state trooper responding to the scene.

The Virginia State Police confirmed that Llamado fatally attacked 39-year-old Michele Adams and inflicted serious injuries on three other women aged 36, 37, and 40. In a chilling extension of the violence, Llamado also killed his own dog during the rampage, as detailed in an official press release issued by the authorities.

The incident unfolded around 1:15 p.m. on Sunday along Interstate 495 in Fairfax County, Virginia. This busy highway, commonly known as the Capital Beltway, encircles Washington, D.C., and is a vital transportation link for the region.

Recounting the harrowing experience, a woman and her daughter, who were traveling back to North Carolina, shared with local NBC affiliate WRC how their SUV was sideswiped by Llamado’s vehicle. Initially, the daughter, Jennifer Paxton, suggested they pull over, but her mother hesitated as Llamado seemed to have another target in sight.

“I told my mom, I’m like, ‘Hey, let’s pull over,’ and she said ‘For what? The guy’s kept going,’” Paxton recounted. Despite the initial hesitation, the pair eventually stopped behind Llamado’s red SUV, only to witness the horrifying scene of him attacking individuals in another vehicle.

They reportedly did end up pulling over behind Llamado’s red SUV. Then, they allegedly saw him start stabbing the people in another vehicle.

A Virginia State Police trooper was called to the scene at about 1:17 p.m. “for a reported road rage incident,” the law enforcement agency said. The trooper arrived and was “confronted” by Llamado, who reportedly still held a knife. The trooper shot the suspect “in self-defense.”

Area Fox affiliate WTTG spoke with a man who claimed he saw the aftermath of the deadly attack.

“I look at the side of the road and I see two people lying on the side of the road; they were about … 10 or 15 feet apart and they were just covered in blood, like, blood everywhere,” the witness said. “One of them was not moving, and one of them was sort of crawling.”

Authorities found the four victims at the scene, where Adams “succumbed to her injuries,” Virginia State Police said. The other three women were taken to area hospitals with “serious injuries.”

After being shot by the trooper, Llamado also had “serious injuries” and was taken to a hospital where he died. The trooper was not hurt.

A preliminary investigation found that none of the women who were stabbed were in Llamado’s vehicle, according to the Virginia State Police, which added that he did not know the victims before the attack. Investigators believe the attack occurred after a crash on Interstate 495 southbound, though how the crash occurred remains under investigation.

Llamado, who lived in Fairfax County, Virginia, was an employee of the U.S. Department of State, a department spokesperson told regional radio outlet WTOP.

“We are aware of the tragic incident that involved a Foreign Service Officer and occurred on Sunday, March 1, in Fairfax County, Virginia. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy,” the spokesperson said.

The trooper who shot Llamado has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation, Virginia State Police said.