Philadelphia police are looking for a man who has been using a knife to attack people on the Schuylkill River Trail in Pennypack Park, police said.
Unrelenting Threat: Pennypack’s Menace Returns, Prompting Immediate Police Alert
The suspect, who is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s, has been seen riding a motorcycle and carrying a large knife. He has been targeting pedestrians and cyclists on the trail, especially near the intersection of North 15th Street and East Park Avenue.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the first attack occurred on Monday, Dec. 6, around 10:30 a.m. A woman was walking her dog on the trail when the suspect approached her and stabbed her in the chest. She was able to run away and call 911. She was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are searching for a knife-wielding man on a bike who slashed two people exercising in Pennypack Park around Thanksgiving.https://t.co/egfuCyvdLx
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) December 9, 2023
The second attack happened on Tuesday, Dec. 7, around 11:15 a.m. A man was riding his bike on the trail when the suspect rode up behind him and slashed his back with the knife. The man managed to escape and flag down another cyclist for help. He was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The third attack occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 8, around 12:45 p.m. A woman was jogging on the trail when the suspect rode up next to her and stabbed her in the leg. She fell to the ground and screamed for help. Several people heard her cries and alerted police officers who were patrolling nearby. The woman was able to get up and run away from the scene.
Police said that they have not identified any motive for the attacks or any connection between them. They also said that they have not found any surveillance footage of the suspect or his motorcycle.
Police are asking anyone who witnesses or encounters the suspect or his motorcycle to call them at 215-686-TIPS (8477). They are also urging people to be alert and cautious when using public trails.
