Philadelphia woman charged after stabbing 1-year-old baby, others in separate attacks
A Philadelphia woman is facing multiple felony charges after stabbing a 1-year-old baby, a woman and an unidentified third person in separate attacks.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced Sunday night that Takeira Hester, 29, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing a baby boy and a 24-year-old woman in separate attacks on Saturday in the Center City neighborhood.
She was arrested by Philadelphia Police later that day.
The DA’s office also said she was charged with attacking a third person but did not provide information about that incident, including when it occurred.
The first attack happened around 8 a.m. Saturday when an attacker, believed to be Hester, stabbed the woman in the chest and hand before fleeing. She was taken to Jefferson University Hospital, treated and released the same day.
In the second attack, which occurred around 12:30 p.m., a person ran up to a couple walking with 1-year-old twins in a stroller outside the Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel synagogue. The person stabbed the baby boy in both arms before being chased away by the child’s father. The attacker is believed to have left a bag behind at the scene.
The child was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and was listed in stable condition.
Both incidents involved a large kitchen knife and appeared to be random, officials said.
Officials said Hester also has an outstanding arrest warrant in New York City for an aggravated assault that occurred last week.
