Robber stabs one, punches another at staffing agency

A man walked into a South Philadelphia employment agency this morning, assaulted two employees and repeatedly stabbed one in the chest, police said.

The incident began around 9:30 a.m. when the man entered the Trinity Staffing Services on Broad Street near Ritner to ask about getting work, police said. When a 54-year-old employee there told him she had nothing available, he "grew irate," stole her purse and stabbed her several times, police said.

He moved on to a second staffer, 49, repeatedly punched her as she tried to call 9-1-1 and unsuccessfully tried to steal her purse, police said. He then ran away.

The stabbing victim staggered across the street to Methodist Hospital, Russell said. She soon was transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

The attacker is described as black, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, wearing a dark-blue hoodie, blue jeans and cornrows. Tipsters, call South Detectives at (215) 686-3013.

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