PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man was shot by a responding SEPTA police officer Monday night after he hurt three people with a knife, including a transit security guard who was stabbed in the neck.
A SEPTA spokesperson said it happened around 8:15 p.m. in the Walnut-Locust Station. Investigators said the man, who is in his mid-40s and is homeless, had two knives on him.
It’s unclear what led to the initial stabbing.
“Preliminary, that it seems completely unprovoked,” said Chief of SEPTA Police Chuck Lawson. “The individual came into the station and started making slashing motions just at people walking by them.”
A SEPTA security guard was stabbed in her neck and had to get stitches. Two passengers were also hurt. They are all expected to physically recover.
After the stabbings, the man made his way up to Broad Street and ran toward City Hall, where responding SEPTA police officers chased him and deployed a Taser, but it was unsuccessful.
“At that time, the suspect was still in possession of the knife,” said Lawson. “One of the SEPTA police officers ... discharged his firearm. He believed a threat was still posed to himself and the other officers at the scene.”
The officer fired about three times and struck the suspect. He was taken to the hospital for surgery.
“The city has become violent,” Lawson added. “We’ve seen this in SEPTA over the year. We’re dealing with a lot more angrier population who are arming themselves with weapons and using them over senseless arguments.”