Politically active couple stabbed at Raleigh home; friend charged

Jamie Kirk Hahn, 29, was being treated at WakeMed in Raleigh for what authorities say were serious injuries from the Monday evening attack at 1705 Tealwood Place. Her husband, Nation Richard Hahn, 27, was treated and later released.

Police have charged Jonathan Wayne Broyhill, 31, with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He was also at WakeMed Tuesday recovering from injuries. Authorities have not said how he got them.

Family members of the Hahns released a statement Tuesday morning in which they said Jamie Hahn "is fighting for her life" with her husband by her side.

"Our families and friends are devastated," the statement said. "Jamie is a strong and courageous young woman and a bright light to us all. Pray for her."

A prayer vigil was planned for 6 p.m. at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, where both the Hahns and Broyhill are members.

According to a search warrant and a 911 call released Tuesday, police responding to the home were directed to a location about a tenth of a mile away on Tealbriar Drive, where they found Jamie Hahn, with multiple stab wounds, on the ground and a trail of blood leading back to the home.

"Someone stabbed her, and she's bleeding so badly," the 911 caller said. "It was a lady that was running down the street, and she's been stabbed, and she's in the yard."

The warrant does not say how Broyhill knows the Hahns, but friends said Tuesday that he is a longtime friend of the couple and was best man at their wedding in 2009.

"I've seen him on many occasions, because he was practically like part of the family. That's how much time he spent at their house," neighbor Pamela Hung said. "To my knowledge, he was like their best friend, so you wonder, what the heck could have happened."

Nation Hahn works as a Democratic strategist and his wife is a fundraiser. Both are well-known figures in political circles in Raleigh.

Nation Hahn is director of engagement at a Raleigh public relations firm, New Kind, and has worked on several high-profile campaigns including the opposition to the state's same-sex marriage ban in 2012.

Jamie Hahn's fundraising firm is Sky Blue Strategies. She has also worked for Rep. Brad Miller's election campaign.

Friends of the couple say they have worked to make Raleigh and the state a better place.

"They have made a substantial impact in this city, as fundraisers, as political consultants, as experts in new media, and for many of us, just as great, great friends," public affairs consultant Mark Ezzell said. "They are really among the bright, shining lights in Raleigh, the young lights that we depend on to be our next generation."