Deli Owner Stabbed During Robbery

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police said a deli owner was repeatedly stabbed while trying to protect his daughter against two armed thieves.

The violent robbery happened around 4 p.m. Monday at Whalen's Deli, located on the 7400 block of Elmwood Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

Police said 51-year-old Ed Whalen interrupted the hold-up as the masked thieves targeted his 25-year-old daughter, who was working at the counter.

"He says, 'Don't go towards my daughter, leave her alone, don't hurt her,'" recounted Lt. John Walker of Philadelphia Police.

Instead, police said, Whalen and one of the suspects started to fight, reported Fox 29's Sharon Crowley.

"The father gets stabbed three to four times in his back and hand. The male with the gun continues the robbery with the daughter in front...taking various amounts of U.S. currency out of the register," said Lt. Walker.

Whalen was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Philadelphia where is listed in stable but serious condition. He is expected to make a full recovery.

His daughter was uninjured.

As the gunman and his accomplice ran down the street, police believe one dropped a bandanna that was hiding his face. The other dropped the knife that, police think, he used to stab Whalen.

Officer Andre Howard's 10-year-old daughter saw it all happen.

“She just told me that a guy came in the store, told everybody to get down on the floor. She said that she saw him pulling out a  gun and she just ran out the store. But thank God, she didn't get hurt,” said Officer Howard of Philadelphia Police.

"I'm angry because it's a shame," said Jane Yarris, the victim's mother-in-law. "That's the way it happens in this world today. It's a shame."

The deli in Elmwood Park has been robbed several times before. In fact, the owner, who has run the store for years, was planning to close it in just a few weeks.

Detectives are going through video surveillance from a nearby restaurant.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.