Editor's Note: (April 15, 2024, 8:04 a.m.): A woman has now been charged with attempted murder in these attacks. This story is no longer being updated. For the latest on Monday, click here.
A person of interest in the separate stabbings of a woman and a baby boy in Center City is now in custody, Philadelphia Police said.
The first incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday on 1300 Chancellor Street. A 24-year-old woman was walking in the area when another woman ran up to her and stabbed her in the chest and hand, investigators said. The attacker then ran off.
The victim was taken to the hospital and later released.
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A few hours later, around noon, a man and woman were pushing strollers with their 1-year-old twin babies inside along the 300 block of South 18th Street. As they were walking, a woman ran up to them and stabbed one of the babies in both of his arms, police said. The woman then ran off as the boy's father chased after her. The woman escaped but dropped a black bag with items inside, according to investigators.
"Now it looked like this female just rushed up to them," Philadelphia Police Captain Frank Banford said during a Saturday evening press conference. "Nothing was said. Completely random. Tried to stab both children."
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The baby boy was taken to the hospital where he is currently in stable condition.
Police determined the same woman was involved in both attacks. They also said she was armed with what appeared to be a large kitchen knife.
Police found the woman's coat inside the black bag as well as other items. Based on evidence they collected, police said the woman also had a warrant out of New York City in connection to an aggravated assault that occurred a few days prior.
"Apparently that person has a prior for aggravated assault," Banford said. "I'm not sure at this time if the same kind of aggravated assault. We're researching that right now."
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, a person of interest in both stabbings was taken into police custody. Police have not yet revealed her identity.
Many who spoke to NBC10 on Saturday afternoon were stunned to hear about what happened.
"Doesn't get any worse than that," Shlomo Stemmer of Center City said. "A one-year-old would not provoke anybody, so I don't know the details if a random crazy person or if there was something that preceded that. It's hard to imagine but to have such a young victim, it's more than shocking."
The second stabbing occurred outside Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel. However, no one involved in the incident is connected to the synagogue, according to a spokesperson.
"We have been working closely with the Philadelphia police department, the FBI, the Federation Security team and the Secure Community Network," the Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel spokesperson wrote to NBC10. "We have been assured that this incident was not in any way related to anti-Semitism but was rather an individual, known to police, who was experiencing a mental health crisis."
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