Woman stabbed inside SEPTA station elevator

KENSINGTON (WPVI) -- Police have released surveillance video of a stabbing and attempted robbery inside an SEPTA station elevator in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

It began at 1:32 a.m. on February 27th at SEPTA's Huntingdon Station in the 2600 block of Kensington Avenue.

The 30 year old victim was getting inside the elevator when her assailant followed her inside.

The two are seen riding the elevator, when the suspect then suddenly pulls a knife.

"She was actually frozen there in the corner for quite a while, you could see she was terrified," Philadelphia Police Captain Mark Burgmann said.

He lunges at her stabbing her several times.

He tries to reach into her pockets and two tumble to the floor. The suspect then flees without taking anything as the woman crawls out of the elevator, screaming for help.

"[The victim is] quite lucky, you saw the size of that knife and the way he was swinging it and stabbing her. She's lucky to be alive," Burgmann said.

She was treated and released for multiple stab wounds.

The assailant is still on loose, but police are hoping someone may recognize him:

"There's real good images of his face. Somebody out there knows him," Burgmann said.

The suspect is described as a black male, 36 to 38 years old standing 5'8" tall with a medium build and a light beard. He was wearing a dark-colored jacket, black pants, and a gray skullcap.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.