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Wawa Employee Stabs Knife-Wielding Man Who Jumped Over Counter Angry About Long Wait, Philadelphia Police Say

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are investigating a stabbing inside a West Mount Airy Wawa. They say it started because of a disgruntled customer. It happened at the store located on the 7200 block of Germantown Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

Police say an employee was unpacking boxes when a male customer began yelling and then punched and choked the employee because he wasn't being served.

When the man tried to go around the counter with a knife, investigators say the employee pulled out his own knife, stabbing the suspect.

"That's crazy, especially when you coming to work the normal shift and you have to fight somebody off. That's insane," a customer told Eyewitness News.

Wawa customers say they're extremely troubled by growing violence in the city.

"It is every day. No matter where you go, you are constantly looking over your shoulder," Brian Hart, who lives in Port Richmond, said. "It is just, you know, not really safe place to live anymore, I don't think."

Dana Grace of Germantown says the current state of the country may have played a part in the suspect's actions.

"That's what I make of it - people are just in such a bad place," she said.

The 42-year-old employee is in critical condition at Einstein Hospital. Police say the suspect is in critical condition and one person is in custody.

CBS3's Jasmine Payoute contributed to this report.

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