SEPTA Officer Shoots Suspect after Alleged Stabbing of 3 People, Including Unarmed Security Guard in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — An investigation is underway after a SEPTA police officer shot a knife-wielding man who allegedly stabbed three people, including an unarmed security guard in Center City Philadelphia.

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. Monday at Broad Street and S. Penn Square outside of City Hall.

“I’m told preliminary that it seems unprovoked, that the individual came into the station and started making slashing motions just at people walking by,” said SEPTA Police Chief Chuck Lawson.

Lawson said the suspect stabbed two riders before he was approached by a woman who worked as a security guard for SEPTA. Police say the suspect then stabbed the guard who was unarmed at the time. SEPTA police quickly converged on the scene, and as the suspect emerged from the station, one of those officers deployed his Taser.

Lawson said the Taser was ineffective and that’s when a six-year veteran of the SEPTA Transit Police Department shot the armed suspect at least three times, wounding him. The suspect was taken to an area hospital. There is no word on his condition. All three victims are expected to survive their injuries. Lawson says this serves as just one more reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face on a regular basis.

“The city has become violent. We’ve seen things, we’ve seen this on SEPTA over the year. We are dealing with an angry population who arming themselves with weapons and using them over senseless arguments,” said Lawson.