1 dead, 2 hurt after knife wielding man went on rampage in Pennsylvania
WEST PHILADELPHIA -- One person is dead and two others are injured after a knife wielding man went on what appeared to be a random rampage in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of 56th Street and Baltimore Avenue.
Police say the 55-year-old assailant walked into a Cricket Wireless store and began stabbing a 31-year-old man who was paying his bill.
The suspect then walked outside where a man was sitting in his car with the windows rolled down. The suspect then allegedly hopped in the vehicle and attempted to stab the 51-year-old inside. The victim was able to fight the attacker off, only suffering wounds to both hands.
The suspect then walked across the street to a 30-year-old man who was talking to his girlfriend while getting his car fixed. The suspect stabs the man in the chest, and the victim staggered into the middle of Baltimore Avenue where he collapsed. He was later pronounced dead.
All the more bizarre, police said, is that the victims were not known to the assailant.
Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker explains, "It just appears as though he walked into the business and saw a person and just figured he'll stab him. Walks out, saw another person sitting in his car, took an opportunity. And he walks across the street, he sees this guy talking to his fiance, and just walks right up on him and stabs him and just keeps on walking. It's just a terrible, terrible situation."
The two victims that survived are being treated at Mercy Hospital.
The 55-year-old suspect has been taken into custody and a weapon has been recovered.
Police say the man has 31 prior arrests. He is now expected to be charged with homicide, aggravated assault, and related offenses.
