Woman in wheelchair stabbed, robbed in Southwest Philadelphia

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A woman in a wheelchair was stabbed and robbed in Southwest Philadelphia and it's the third attack on a disabled person in the area in the last week.

"Went to play my lottery at ShopRite like I do every morning," said Amarilis Morales.

Morales says she was in her wheelchair around 10:20 Wednesday morning, on her way back from a grocery store in the Penrose Plaza at Island Avenue and Lindberg Boulevard.

That's when she says, a young man suddenly jumped off his bike and ran toward her.

"He says, 'Give me all your money!' I say, 'I don't have any money.' He says 'Give me all your money, everything you have or you're gonna die,'" said Morales.

Morales, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for over 34 years, says she struggled with the man for her handbag.

That's when the attacker pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the right shoulder.

"All there was in there was $80 but I had my license and my credit cards in there," said Morales.

She was stabbed for only $80.

"For $80 and it hurts, I'll tell you, I'm going through pain right now," Morales added.

Police believe the assailant is the same one who stabbed and robbed a 63-year-old man on Monday around 5:00 p.m.

"We're concerned. In this area, obviously, we have a strong residential population and a big commercial district. This individual is clearly out there and he's on a bike and we're asking for the public's help to identify who this individual is," said Lt. Johnny Walker, Philadelphia Police.

The attack on Morales is the third attack on a disabled person across the tri-state area since last week.

Morales is a resident of an Inglis-owned property for the disabled.

Gavin Kerr, the CEO of Inglis, is outraged that someone would attack a person in a wheelchair.

"From my perspective, there's a special place in Hell for people who do these things. And we, as a society, have to come together and protect each other," said Kerr.

The suspect is described as a black male between the ages of 14 and 18. He was last seen riding a black mountain bike.

Investigators are working to secure surveillance video of Wednesday's attack.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or through PhillyPolice.com.