Bizarre stabbings shake neighborhood

For the second time in less than a year, residents on the edge of Northern Liberties are worried about what appears to be a random murder.

Authorities said a 56-year-old man was fatally stabbed Monday shortly before 6 p.m. near Seventh and Brown streets and a second victim — a 31-year-old man — was stabbed a block away at Seventh and Fairmount. The second victim was still listed in critical condition yesterday at Hahnemann University Hospital, police said.

Investigators have no motive for the attacks and several sources have said the stabbings appear random. There is speculation that the suspect was a homeless man, but police could not confirm that yesterday.

Last June, waitress Sabina O’Donnell was killed when 19-year-old Donte Johnson allegedly attacked her to steal her bicycle. Johnson is awaiting trial.

“It’s out of control around here. All these cameras out here aren’t doing nothing,” said Martino Childs, a Seventh Street resident. He described the neighborhood as decent, but said “It just needs more patrols.”