City park ranger stabbed in Rittenhouse Square

A city park ranger is recovering after police said he was stabbed in Rittenhouse Square in one of three separate stabbing incidents in the city on Sunday.

The incident happened just after 4:15 p.m. near 18th and Walnut Streets.

According to police, the 40-year-old park ranger was stabbed while working security for the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.

Police say the incident started when a 34-year-old man went inside a park booth and laid down, according to Action News at 10 on PHL17.

The park ranger told the suspect he was not permitted to be inside the booth.

That’s when police say the suspect got up and stabbed the ranger in his head above his right eye.

“They come falling out of the doors onto the ground, the security guard has the guy’s hand and won’t let go of his hand. The security guard is bleeding, this guy will not let go at whatever is there,” said Michelle Knoeppel from South Philadelphia.

People in Rittenhouse Park witnessed the incident. Police say the witnesses reportedly held the suspect down until officers arrived and arrested him.

“As you can see, there is a very large crowd of people usually here at the park throughout the weekend. A number of them grabbed the assailant until police arrived,” said Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace.

The ranger is reportedly in stable condition at Jefferson Hospital, according to police.

Investigators say they recovered a pair of scissors from the scene, which they believe was used by the suspect in the stabbing, according to Action News at 10 on PHL17.

The suspect’s identity has not been released.

The park ranger was one of four people hurt in three separate incidents in the city on Sunday.

Minutes before the stabbing incident in Rittenhouse Square, a 27-year-old man was stabbed in his right arm and a 63-year-old man was stabbed in his head while they were inside a deli on the 2700 block of Kensington Avenue in Kensington just after 4 p.m.

Both victims were taken to Temple Hospital and are reportedly in stable condition.

Earlier Sunday, police say a stabbing happened in West Philadelphia on the Unit block of South Dewey Street.

Just after 4:45 a.m., a 41-year-old woman walked into Temple Hospital with two stab wounds to her right upper back, according to police.

Police say the woman is in stable condition

No arrests have been made in the stabbing incident in Kensington or West Philadelphia.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 215-686-3093 or call/text the PPD’s tipline at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

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