Girl Stabbed After Anti-Violence Party

PHILADELPHIA - As the city’s youth turned in early for the second night of a 9 p.m. curfew for certain areas of the city in the wake of outbreaks of mob violence, a girl reported being stabbed leaving a city-sponsored event to keep kids off the street, which Mayor Michael Nutter attended.

The 16-year-old girl spoke with Fox 29 Sunday about the incident that occurred following a bowling party held at the Eerie Lanes Bowling Alley, located at 1310 E. Eerie Ave., which was touted as a teen safe zone.

The stabbing took place around 10:20 p.m., as the girl and friends were walking to a nearby bus stop. According to police, teenagers were released from the event in groups. Police say a male suspect who had been released in a group prior to the victim attempted to talk to her, as the two knew each other, and then stabbed her after she ignored him and continued to walk toward Torresdale Avenue.

The girl was brought to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she was treated and released.

Police arrested a suspect in the stabbing around 9:45 a.m. Sunday on the 1300 block of N. 10th Street, and also recovered what is thought to be the weapon used in the attack. Police have described it as a small novelty item shaped like a house key that contains a retractable knife blade.

The suspect is currently facing charges including aggravated assault and making terroristic threats, according to police.

The girl and her mother said Sunday they were grateful for the quick work police did in making an arrest. However, her mother said she was concerned that too much of the focus on youth violence surrounds Center City, while other neighborhoods are having the same problems.

The current curfew of 9 p.m. is only in effect for areas of Center City between Vine and Bainbridge streets and from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River, and in University City between Market Street and Baltimore Avenue from 38th Street to 43rd Street. The party at the bowling alley was held outside of these zones, and the teenagers were released an hour after the curfew went into effect for those areas.

Nutter had left the event at the bowling alley to participate in a walking tour to observe curfew enforcement efforts with police and other officials of Center City, which started in Love Park around 10 p.m. Despite the violent incident, which he called “unfortunate,” his office released a statement Sunday afternoon stating he hopes the bowling alley party, which several hundred young people are estimated to have attended, will become a model for a much larger program.

"We had a fantastic event last night with hundreds of kids out, bowling, dancing, listening to music and talking to each other. It was a demonstration of what good teenage fun is all about," said Nutter in the statement.

Police reported Sunday 12 young people between the ages of 12 and 16 being taken into custody for violating curfew Saturday night, which is fewer than the roughly 50 who were taken into custody Friday night. Those who were caught violating the curfew were turned over to their parents, according to police.