Woman Seriously Injured After Unknown Man Throws Chemical In Her Face, Philadelphia Police Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Germantown woman is in the hospital after having an unknown substance thrown in her face, Tuesday morning. Police say the incident happened as the 61-year-old woman was leaving her house on the 5100 block of Newhall Street.
"The male approached her unknown to her, black male no real unique description had approached her, asked her a question. She responded to the question, it was just in passing. When she responded the male threw an unknown liquid in her direction striking her in the face," Philadelphia Police Insp. Michael McCarrick said. "She received injuries to her face. At this point, unknown the extent of the injuries. But a chemical did hit her in the face, so we don't know whether it is going to be just, you know, eyes, nose, mouth, etc."
The woman was taken to Temple Hospital. She is in critical condition.
Worried family members chose not to talk to Eyewitness News on camera but were clearly concerned about the victim's condition.
Meantime, police combed the scene for hours looking for the suspect and searching for more evidence of what the thrown substance might have been.
"Something that was burning. It caused a burning sensation, burning to her extremities, her eyes," said Insp. McCarrick.
Folks who live in the neighborhood were shocked to hear about the morning attack.
"That's shocking to be that early in the morning and somebody do that to a older lady. That's crazy," one person said.
The suspect is described as a Black man, dark complexion, 5-feet 7-inches tall, with dreadlocks and wearing a light blue mask and dark coat.
So far, no arrests have been made.
