On Saturday, investigators say a woman was arrested who stabbed a 1-year-old boy who was out on a walk with his family and a woman who was out for a jog. That woman is being held on $4 million bail and prosecutors have requested a mental health evaluation. Residents in the neighborhoods are concerned for their safety. NBC10’s Rosemary Connors has more.
Law enforcement officials have officially charged a 29-year-old woman after separate stabbing attacks in Center City Philadelphia left a 24-year-old woman and a 1-year-old baby boy injured on Saturday.
According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Takeira Hester, 29. has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault after she stabbed a woman and a baby boy in separate incidents on Saturday in Center City.
The DA's office said Sunday night that Hester has also been charged in a third attack on another individual, however, officials did not immediately provide further information on this additional incident.
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Officials said the first incident was alleged to have happened shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturday when a 24-year-old woman was stabbed by an attacker -- who officials now believe was Hester -- as she walked along the 1300 block of Chancellor Street.
The victim was stabbed in her chest and hand before the attacker fled, officials said.
That woman was taken to a nearby hospital and, officials said, she was treated and released.
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Yet, a few hours later, around noon, officials said the same attacker is believed to have assaulted a couple who was walking with their 1-year-old twin children in a stroller along the 300 block of South 18th Street. In that incident officials claim Hester ran up to the couple and stabbed one of the babies -- a 1-year-old boy -- in both of his arms before running off as she was chased by the child's father.
Following that incident, Hester is believed to have left behind a bag at the scene, officials said.
Officials claimed that Hester was armed with, what appeared to be, a large kitchen knife during these incidents.
Also, police said, Hester had a warrant out of New York City in connection to an aggravated assault that occurred a few days prior.
Hester has been in police custody since Saturday night. She is currently being held on $4 million bail.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
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