Camden Social Worker In Critical Condition After Being Stabbed 21 Times By Client
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- Police are investigating a stabbing at the Child Protection and Permanency Agency in Camden, New Jersey.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.
Witnesses say the attacker was on top of the social worker and would not stop stabbing until a co-worker managed to pull her off.
The Chief of Police in Camden, Scott Thomson, says the suspect has a history of mental illness and violence.
"[She] pulled out a nine-inch steak knife and began to immediately start stabbing the case worker," Chief Thomson says.
"The attack was sudden and swift," Chief Thomson added, adding that the victim was a female case worker in her 30s. She was reportedly stabbed 21 times all over her body by a client who is also in her 30s.
Authorities say the stabbing victim was taken to Cooper Hospital in severe critical condition.
Police say they have the suspect in custody, but the actual motive remains unknown.
"This is the last place that I would think something like this would happen," says Lamere Troup, who arrived on the scene moments after the stabbing. "This is the state facility, the state building."
Troup also says he's outraged at what he calls a lapse in security.
"There are a lot of kids in here, and visits that go on in here...and THAT happened here? It's unsafe," Troup says.
The victim remains on life support at this time.
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