Philadelphia police are searching for a woman following the assault of a 63-year-old woman at a SEPTA bus stop earlier this week. NBC10’s Yukare Nakayama has the details.
Philadelphia police are searching for a woman who they say randomly attacked another woman who was waiting for the bus in Center City.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, around 11:45 a.m., a 63-year-old woman was waiting for the bus on 1100 Market Street when another woman approached her and started screaming, police said.
The woman then punched the 63-year-old woman, knocking her to the ground. Police said they don’t know the motive in the attack. They released surveillance video of the suspect on Friday, Dec. 13.
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The suspect is described as a woman with black hair who was wearing a black hat, black jacket, blue jeans and tan boots. If you see the suspect, do not approach her. Instead, call 911 immediately.
You can submit a tip by calling or texting 215-686-TIPS (8477). You can also submit an anonymous tip here.
SEPTA riders react
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NBC10 spoke with SEPTA riders about Wednesday's incident. Kathleen Harris, a regular at the bus stop near 11th and Market streets, said she believes violent incidents happen too often on or near SEPTA stops. She claims she was attacked two months ago while waiting for her bus.
"I was sitting in my wheelchair," she said. "A guy just walked up and started stabbing me."
According to SEPTA, there has been a 34 percent decrease in serious crimes on the system as of Oct. 24, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023. SEPTA data shows crimes such as aggravated assault and robbery have dropped 38 percent.
Despite the data, another SEPTA rider -- who did not want to be identified -- told NBC10 she has been dealing with anxiety due to recent attacks.
"The fact that she's still out there really scares me," the woman said. "There's been a lot of stabbings going on and unprovoked violence so it is very scary."
