Worker Stabbed During Robbery At South Philadelphia Employment Agency
By Charlotte Huffman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are investigating after a 53-year-old woman was stabbed several times in a South Philadelphia employment agency.
Authorities say the victim, an employee of the agency, was stabbed multiple times in the chest at Trinity Staffing Services on the 2300 block of S. Broad Street.
Police say around 9 a.m. a man walked into the business, asked for work, stabbed the employee three times in the chest and then snatched her purse and ran.
The female walked herself across the street to Methodist Hospital. She was then transferred to Jefferson hospital where she is listed in critical condition.
A witness, Bob Lutz, says, "I saw a woman come out of the staffing agency holding a towel to her neck. I looked down and I saw blood dripping from her. She walked over to the hospital and somebody said someone had stabbed her."
An investigation is ongoing and police have not made any arrests, but they describe the suspect as a black male, with braids, wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans
"I was kind of shocked because over the past four years there has been absolutely nothing. I haven't even heard an argument upstairs," said Frank Cinquino, an attorney who offices below Trinity Staffing Services.
Trinity Staffing Services is an employment staffing agency that places people in jobs across the city and cuts their paychecks.
Charles Lyons has worked with the company for nearly a year. He knows the victim first hand and says she often hires ex-offenders.
"She just gives people a chance. A lot of guys I know of are ex-offenders, so she gives people opportunity to work legally and take care of their family themselves," said Lyons.
There's no official word on any connection between the suspect and victim, but Lyons has his own theory.
"I guess I'm not surprised because of the mentality of the people that work there. I'm shocked to hear it but at the same time I'm not surprised," he said.
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