Police: 51-Year-Old Victim Refused To Cooperate Before He Died After Stabbed Multiple Times In Rittenhouse Square Park
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 51-year-old man died after he was stabbed multiple times at a park in the Rittenhouse Square section of Philadelphia on Thursday night. Police say before he died, Dean Jordan didn't cooperate and refused medical treatment.
The violence unfolded on the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets, around 10 p.m.
Police were called to the scene for a report of a group of people fighting a man. When police arrived, they found Jordan, who is believed to be homeless, stabbed multiple times in the neck, chest, shoulder, and back.
Police say eight men were in the park drinking and fighting and it was one of those people who stabbed Jordan. Police believe the victim was homeless.
When medics arrived, Jordan started struggling with first responders. He was eventually convinced to go to the hospital. However, he died there just before midnight.
"I don't know what precipitated this assault. I don't know if there was a verbal exchange beforehand. I don't know as to whether Mr. Jordan was with these individuals," Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said.
Two men were stopped and questioned but were released.
Police have no motive for this attack and no weapon was found.
"We need people to cooperate," Smith said. "There had to be more persons inside that park who are in a position to observe or hear something that occurred."
The violence has neighbors on edge.
"I work overnight so this is even more concerning for me," resident Jenny Davis said. "I have to be at work every night at 10:30 so if this happened earlier today, I am just concerned."
Residents say they have been seen more people loitering in the park.
"It just seems like the crime rate is getting higher. I hear more and more stories like this. I live alone. I definitely find it concerning," Rachel Zabinski said.
Investigators hope surveillance cameras in the area can help piece this case together.
Police are asking anyone who was in the park last night at about 10 p.m. and may have heard something to give them a call.
No arrests have been made.
CBS3's Jan Carabeo and Howard Monroe contributed to this report.
