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Chief James White at a Monday press conference.
Detroit Police Chief James White said Monday investigators were looking at a number of people of interest in Saturday's fatal stabbing of Samantha Woll, the president of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue.
"We have a number of people that give us interest," White said. "We are just short of calling one of the people a suspect but we are working to that end and we will be there, but it just takes time. I'm asking for patience as we work through every aspect of what we're doing."
He said antisemitism does not appear to be a motive in the slaying. The death caught the attention of the world and sparked speculation that it might be related to the Middle East conflict.
He said as of now there's not anything "that supports anyone else being at risk as it relates to a hate crime. We certainly know that this is a dangerous person and this is why we're working tirelessly to identify a suspect and get the right suspect off the street."
Samantha Woll at synagogue reopening in August following $6 million renovation.
He said of it being a hate crime: "Right now the evidence does not take us there."
Police said they know that Woll left a Friday night wedding and headed home. It appears there was no forced entry in her home in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood.
Investigators believe the stabbing occured inside her home and she may have stumbled outside and collapsed. They believe her body was there "quite a while" before she was discovered.
The FBI and Michigan State Police are assisting.
Watch press conference below.
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