Police ID 17-Year-Old Victim Of North Philadelphia Fatal Stabbing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police have identified a 17-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed in North Philadelphia over the holiday weekend.
Authorities say the victim, Anita Cotton, died after being stabbed numerous times in her neck, back and arm on the 4200 block of North Broad Street.
Cotton was initially transported to Einstein Hospital, where she died around 3:40 a.m.
Police say the motive in the crime appears to have been an argument.
"Young people. What's wrong with them? What is wrong with them today?"
Nicetown Neighbor Deloris Francis says the question has consumed her.
She wonders how the young girl she watched grow into a young mother, could have been killed so senselessly, during a simple street fight.
"She was like my other daughter."
Police say Cotton was with a group of about 15-to-20 other teens late Saturday night.
The group left the city's 4th of July Celebration and got into a fight with a smaller group of teens on South Street.
Both groups then took the train to Hunting Park, and at about three Sunday morning, fought again in a Walgreens' parking lot.
Cotton and her killer fought, grappled, until police say that second teen took out a knife and stabbed her in the neck.
Captain James Clark says, "My advice to these young ladies, go to their parents, let them know what happened and come into homicide unit and tell their story."
Cotton leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
A vigil for Cotton will be held at the corner of Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 8 p.m. on Monday.
