Suspect wanted in deadly Center City SEPTA station stabbing captured
Police say a 22-year-old man was stabbed twice in the chest after an argument with the suspect.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man is in custody in connection with a deadly stabbing at a Center City SEPTA station Wednesday evening.
According to SEPTA police, the suspect was being tracked overnight using the transit agency's network of cameras.
Officers approached the man on Thursday evening at the 2nd Street Station and took him into custody.
Police say the victim, identified as 22-year-old Christian Rios of Gloucester City, New Jersey, was stabbed twice in the chest Wednesday evening on the 800 block of Market Street.
Investigators say Rios was standing with a female when he got into an argument with the suspect.
Action News is told Rios made it upstairs but collapsed onto the sidewalk. He died a short time later at the hospital.
Crime, homelessness and cleanliness are all issues continuing to plague SEPTA that exacerbated during the pandemic.
In fact, aggravated assaults increased on SEPTA property since 2019 and more than doubled in 2022.
The fatal stabbing happened within minutes and during a busy time when people are taking the train home from work.
"The timing does shock me cause that time of day you think you would be safe. Stuff like this happens later at night," said Erik Parker who takes the train home after work.
On Thursday, SEPTA transit police and Homeland Security officers were patrolling the area around the station, part of an initiative started a few years ago.
SEPTA says the patrols with federal officers rotate throughout the SEPTA system and occur about four times each month on average.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
The suspect was not identified or formally charged as of Thursday night.
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