An incident that left two dead and one seriously wounded at a Manassas, Va., training center for electricians Tuesday began when a student approached a classmate, pulled a knife from a backpack and began stabbing the man, Prince William County police said Wednesday.

Authorities said they are still investigating the motive for the attack but identified the suspect as Philip Austin Brant, 26, of Woodbridge, and the victim in the classroom as a 23-year-old man from Fairfax, Va. He survived and is in critical condition.

After the stabbing began around 3:20 p.m., police said the other students fled the classroom at the facility in the 7000 block of Infantry Ridge Road that is jointly run by Local 26 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association.

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The suspect eventually left the classroom and stabbed another student, Elijah Islam Safadi, 23, of Manassas, police said.

When officers arrived minutes later, police said they encountered Brant at the entrance of the facility. The officers ordered Brant to drop the knife, but police said he continued to advance toward them. Two officers opened fire, striking Brant, who was pronounced dead on the scene.

The 23-year-old victim, who had collapsed, was found in the classroom where the incident began, while Safadi was found in a parking lot outside the building. Both were transported to a hospital, where Safadi later died.

A man who identified himself as Safadi’s brother wrote in a text message that his “brother died a hero.” The man did not respond to a follow-up message asking him to offer additional details.

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Efforts to reach Brant’s family were unsuccessful.

Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news briefing Tuesday that the scene inside the facility was harrowing.

“I have not been inside,” Newsham said. “I’ve seen a couple of images. It’s horrific. You’ve got folks that come out here to do some training, and the next thing you know, one of them has lost his life, and another one is struggling for his life in a local hospital. I can’t imagine what the families are going through right now.”

Newsham said the officers activated their body-worn cameras before the shooting and that the department would decide within 30 days how much video, if any, to release publicly. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Police said the officers had 5½ years experience on the force and were detailed to the uniformed patrol operations. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

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David Long, CEO of the contractors association, said he was saddened by the incident in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” Long said. “The safety and well-being of our workers are our top priorities and we will continue to work to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved in our programs. We extend our most heartfelt support in every possible way during this tragic time.”

IBEW Local 26 did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but union officials said in a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday that the school will remain closed through the end of the week.

“This is a tragic time and I know you all have questions but we have no ability to answer those questions right now,” IBEW Local 26 President Thomas Myers said in the video.

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