Police: Attacker on El platform yelled, 'Kill! Kill! Kill!'

A 27-year-old woman was pushed off a SEPTA platform onto the Market-Frankford El tracks by a man yelling, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" in West Philadelphia over the weekend, police said Monday.

Around 9 a.m. Sunday, the woman was on the eastbound platform at 40th Street looking for the next train when she was pushed from behind onto the tracks, said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives. The woman injured her right shoulder and right knee in the fall.

The woman looked up and saw a man, later identified as Kenneth Grimes, 33, allegedly standing over her, holding a large kitchen knife and yelling, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" Walker said.

Grimes walked away and the woman climbed out and called 911, Walker said. The woman was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

Grimes allegedly boarded a train and got out at 30th Street Station, where police were waiting to apprehend him. Walker said Grimes fought with police and spat at them. Grimes was subdued and the knife was recovered.

Walker said detectives did not have a motive for the "unprovoked attack" on the woman.

Grimes, of the 1100 block of West Tioga Street, was charged with aggravated assault and related offenses, and was in custody Monday with bail set at $250,000.

bmoran@phillynews.com

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