Penn worker stabbed to death

The medical employeeThe medical employeewas murdered during aThe medical employeewas murdered during arobbery attempt nearThe medical employeewas murdered during arobbery attempt nearcampus late last night. A University Medical Center employee was fatally stabbed in the chest late last night on the 4300 block of Larchwood Avenue, according to Chief of Police Operations Maureen Rush. The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and pronounced dead just after arrival, according to Rush. She described the victim as a white male, approximately 38 years old. The name of the victim could not be released last night as his next of kin -- a 12-year-old son -- had not yet been notified. The victim and his female companion were walking west on Larchwood Avenue at about 11 p.m., when they were approached by a black male. A struggle between the two men ensued as the assailant attempted to steal the woman's pocketbook, according to Rush. The perpetrator was joined by a black female and several additional males, who arrived on the scene in a blue car, she said. Witnesses called the incident in to Philadelphia Police at 11:13 p.m. Two members of the University's special response team, who were patrolling in plain clothes only two blocks from the incident, were the first to report to the scene, Rush said. Witnesses said the victim was still breathing when police first arrived. The female victim in the incident, who is also a Medical Center employee, was not injured. She was taken by Philadelphia Police to their 8th and Race streets headquarters for questioning by the division's homicide unit. Three additional witnesses were also taken to Philadelphia Police headquarters. Though witnesses reported hearing a gunshot during the struggle, Rush said no evidence of a gunshot wound had been found as of press time. She added that the victim's fatal wound was due to a knife stab, not a gunshot. Witnesses said they saw the perpetrators flee in the blue car. One of the male suspects was described as wearing an orange or yellow jacket. The female perpetrator was identified as 5'5" with shoulder-length hair and white ties in her braids. Rush notified University President Judith Rodin and several other Penn officials late last night. The Philadelphia homicide unit, Southwest Detectives and Penn Police continue to investigate the incident. In separate incidents, an 18-year-old male was shot at 42nd and Lancaster streets late Wednesday night. And a man unaffiliated with the University was shot at 40th and Chestnut streets during a dispute last Thursday. These shootings follow a rash of more than 30 robberies near campus -- most armed -- during the month of September. In addition, College senior Patrick Leroy was shot at 40th and Locust streets September 25.

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