Duluth man charged after stabbing at Union Gospel Mission

A stabbing at the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Duluth sent one person to surgery and left 23-year-old Chase Dayton Covington facing two felony counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

Court records said Covington and the victim were inside the mission when the violence broke out. Police said Covington made a statement about ending the victim before he stabbed the person and ran away. Officers arriving at the scene reported seeing a large amount of blood, and the victim was taken to a local hospital, where staff determined the knife had struck the liver. The court filing said surgery was required.

A City of Duluth police release said officers later identified Covington and said he would be lodged at the St. Louis County Jail on pending second-degree assault charges. At the time of the report, Covington was being held on $100,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The case is drawing attention because the Union Gospel Mission is not just another downtown address. The mission, at 219 E. 1st St., has served Duluth since Nov. 1, 1922, when 22 churches came together to found it. State services listings describe it as a place where people experiencing homelessness can walk in for help, basic needs and referral support, including assistance for people facing homelessness, chemical or mental health problems, abuse or unemployment.

The stabbing lands amid broader pressure on Duluth’s homelessness response. St. Louis County says its Point-in-Time count is the annual single-night census used to measure homelessness in January, and the county says households at risk are routed through 2-1-1 and coordinated entry. Duluth, Chum, Damiano and Union Gospel Mission are also working together on Pathway Forward, a collaboration meant to improve service delivery and reduce strain on the downtown core.

Covington’s criminal history adds to the public-safety concerns around the case. The report said he had prior convictions for third-degree assault and two robberies in St. Louis County over the past four years, raising the stakes for a stabbing that turned a service site into a violent crime scene. In a downtown neighborhood where shelter, treatment and crisis response already operate under pressure, the case is another reminder of how quickly a single confrontation can test the system around it.