Philadelphia

Police Believe They Know Identity of Attacker in Deadly SEPTA Station Stabbing

A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death during rush hour on Wednesday at the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line station at 8th and Market streets.

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UPDATE: Police have arrested the suspect. New details HERE.

A man was stabbed to death at a Center City SEPTA station during the Wednesday evening rush.

The Philadelphia Police said SEPTA officials may already be "familiar" with the individual wanted for the deadly stabbing that occurred at 5:47 p.m. on Wednesday at the SEPTA Market-Frankford Line station at 8th and Market streets.

"They see him in the area on a regular basis and they are familiar with him. So, we are pretty confident that, since we see him on a regular basis, we are going to be able to identify him and take him into custody soon," Scott Small, chief inspector for the Philadelphia Police, told NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal.

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The stabbing -- that occurred underground on the platform or near the stairs leading from the sidewalk -- was the result of an argument, investigators said.

When police arrived, they found a 22-year-old man -- who police identified as Christian Rios of Gloucester City, New Jersey -- bleeding on the ground suffering from two stab wounds to the chest. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m.

SEPTA released a picture of the stabbing suspect from their surveillance. Anyone who recognizes him should call 911 immediately.

Police believe the suspect is a man, possibly in his 30s or 40s, wearing a dark puffy jacket and dark pants with a burgundy or maroon hooded sweatshirt under his jacket. He is also wearing a white scarf and black hat.

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He was last seen getting on the Market-Frankford line going in an eastbound direction. 

Police do not know if Rios knew his attacker or what the motive for the stabbing was.

The woman that was with Rios was not injured and is working with investigators at this time, according to police.

The stabbing occurred shortly after a shooting took place at a SEPTA Station in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.

Police said that they don’t believe the shooting that took place is connected to the stabbing.

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