The victim told police she was inside a pool hall when somebody walked by and plunged a knife in her chest.
Just minutes into 2004, someone stabbed a 21-year-old woman in the chest inside a pool hall at 11th and Washington, police said. The victim told investigators she realized she had been knifed after a crowd of people walked by her early last Thursday, according to Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division.
The victim was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in stable condition, the sergeant added.
As of yesterday, detectives had no suspects or motive in the bizarre incident.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Bullets strike two
A shooter and his accomplice are on the loose after gunning down two young men during a botched holdup Monday night, police said.
The perpetrators allegedly approached the victims around 10 p.m. at Fourth and Morris streets and said, "You know what this is, lay it down," according to Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
One of the offenders whipped out a pistol and unloaded two rounds, striking the 23-year-old in the chest and the 21-year-old in the right leg, the sergeant said.
Medic 21 took both victims to Jefferson Hospital, where they were admitted in stable condition.
The culprits fled south on Orianna Street from Fourth.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Stolen gun used in shooting
A man who tried to make his getaway from flying bullets early Sunday was shot twice nonetheless, police said.
The 26-year-old victim was walking near 16th Street and Passyunk Avenue shortly after 1:30 a.m. when a man began firing at him, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
While running for cover, the victim realized he had taken bullets in the left arm and left leg, the sergeant said.
The victim stopped and called police. He was taken in stable condition to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Investigators recovered a stolen .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, which they believe was the weapon used to shoot the victim, on the 2000 block of South Bancroft Street, said Biello.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Robbers loot home
Two female friends were lucky to escape harm after gun-wielding intruders forced them inside one victim’s apartment and then robbed the place, police said.
The incident happened Saturday at 7:15 a.m. on the 1900 block of South 17th Street, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
Three men accosted the women from behind as they were entering the victim’s home, police said.
After forcing the friends inside the apartment, the culprits led them to the bathroom and then ransacked the place, said Biello.
The unwelcome guests walked out with a 50-inch TV, DVD player and $300, the sergeant said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Terror at nightclub
Investigators are still looking for the three men who barged into an Asian nightclub and terrorized the patrons and owner in an armed robbery early Friday.
One of the perpetrators was armed with a shotgun and another held a small pistol in the 4 a.m. incident at the Saigon Social Club on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The culprits were wearing hooded jackets and their faces were mostly covered, added the sergeant.
After ordering all the customers to lay on the floor, the offenders approached the 33-year-old owner and demanded money from the cash registers, Biello said.
There were no injuries and the culprits fled with $900.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Gunning for trouble
Despite police warnings again this year, 21 people were arrested and charged with firing guns to ring in the new year.
One of those charged was a 19-year-old from the 3000 block of South 15th Street, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
Sean Gledhill was arrested after a short foot chase when 17th District police saw him firing a handgun into the air on the 2600 block of Earp Street, the sergeant said.
Police confiscated a 9 mm Intertech (better known on the street as Tech 9) loaded with 21 live rounds, said Biello.
Gledhill was charged with firearms violations, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.
Mother to stand trial
The 28-year-old mother of a 2-month-old boy was ordered to stand trial on all charges last Friday for allegedly abusing her son, officials said.
Renee Knight, of the 400 block of Fitzgerald Street, is being held on $50,000 bail and will be arraigned Jan. 23, said the District Attorney’s Office.
On Nov. 7, Knight was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child after investigators said her original story to police was inconsistent with her infant’s injuries. Knight had told police several days earlier that her son had rolled off her king-size bed and onto the floor, police said. Medics took the child to HUP, where he was admitted in critical condition for skull fractures. Doctors at the hospital said the victim’s injuries were not the result of a fall from a bed.
Earlier this week, the infant was still hospitalized with brain injuries and bleeding, officials said.
Arsonist on the loose?
Officials are investigating a series of arson fires over a 12-hour period that they believe are connected.
The first was Monday at 5:15 p.m. at 2237 McKean St., said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit. Flames erupted in a sofa inside the residence; luckily, none of the occupants was home at the time. The blaze spread to 2237 McKean, where people were home but no one was injured, the inspector said.
The fire was declared arson, Colarulo said.
Then Tuesday around 4:30 a.m., police and firefighters were met by a resident at 2224 S. Broad St. who discovered a small fire in the drawer of a desk located in the basement of the property, the inspector said.
That blaze also was declared arson by a fire lieutenant at the scene, the inspector said.
In an odd twist of fate, the same fire official noticed yet another fire
45 minutes later as he was driving south on Broad Street, Colarulo said.
The lieutenant saw the fire in the vestibule of 2528 S. Broad St., and the building was promptly evacuated. Once again, the cause was arson.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Local man dies in fall
For a South Philadelphia family, the new year began with a heartbreaking tragedy — the sudden death of a promising young man.
Joseph Israel, 22, died on New Year’s Eve when he fell from the scaffolding of a Center City building.
"Joseph, my nephew, was a happy, hard-working young man," said John Verrecchio. "He resides in heaven now."
The victim’s family and friends fashioned a unique memorial at 10th and Chestnut streets, the site of his death. It includes a crucifix made of broken wood from the building materials, candles and stuffed animals, his uncle said.
A graduate of St. Nicolas of Tolentine School and Furness High School, Israel would have turned 23 on Jan. 11, along with his twin sister, Jamie. Israel was the father of a 4-year-old girl, Skyla.
The worker, of the 1200 block of Emily Street, fell 75 feet from a ledge at the Victory Building on the morning of Dec. 31, authorities said.
Sgt. Joseph Matto of Central Detective Division said Israel was working on an electrical cord used by his scaffolding unit on the eighth floor of the building when he lost his balance on an outside ledge and fell.
Israel was taken directly across the street to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at 9:14 a.m., where he was pronounced dead due to massive trauma to the head and torso, officials said.
Philadelphia Management, the owner of the Victory Building, contracted several companies, including Hydro-Proof Systems, the company for whom Israel worked, to complete renovations to the unoccupied, decades-old structure.
Attempts to reach the Berlin, N.J.-based Hydro-Proof Systems for comment were unsuccessful.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Licenses and Inspections and police are investigating the incident.
A viewing for Israel was held Monday at Rogers Funeral Home at 1426 S. Third St. The funeral Mass was held at Calvary Temple Church, 20th and Geary streets.
—By Anthony Scafide
