A Philadelphia woman has been bound over for Common Pleas Court on attempted murder and related charges following a shocking incident on a SEPTA bus earlier this month.
Lateefah C. Brown, 45, faces multiple charges, including simple and aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person, stemming from a stabbing that occurred on May 1 at the Marple Crossroads Shopping Center located at 400 State Road.
Magisterial District Judge David Lang presided over the hearing, during which Marple Detective Patrick Sexton provided crucial testimony.
Sexton revealed that he had responded to the shopping center for an unrelated retail theft when he stumbled upon the victim, who was severely injured and covered in blood as other officers provided first aid.
Investigating the scene, Sexton discovered blood stains leading from where the victim was found toward a SEPTA bus positioned between a Walmart and a recently vacated Joann Fabrics.
The detective managed to retrieve video footage from the SEPTA bus, which was subsequently presented in court.
According to Sexton, the video, which spanned approximately 10 minutes, appears to show Brown situated a few seats ahead of the victim, where she was seen opening a folding knife.
During the proceedings, Assistant District Attorney Dareus Chen elaborated on the video evidence, stating it displayed Brown glancing toward the victim multiple times while she manipulated the knife, unfolding and refolding it in her hands.
When the bus arrived at the shopping center around 5:52 p.m., the footage indicates that Brown allowed the victim to exit from the rear of the bus ahead of her.
Once he stepped off, she viciously attacked him from behind, stabbing him in the head six times without any apparent provocation.
Sexton noted that upon his arrival, Brown was already in custody and communicated with him in a “cold” demeanor.
She claimed to be acting in defense of another individual against the victim, although Sexton asserted that there was no known connection between Brown and the victim.
It remains unclear whether the supposed person she was protecting had any association with her.
Sexton attempted to interview Brown at the police station, but she requested legal representation, asserting her right to an attorney.
During the court session, Sexton confirmed all encounters with Brown and witnesses were recorded, including photographs documenting blood on the sidewalk, parking lot, the victim, and the knife used in the attack.
In a moment of contradiction, Brown interjected during the proceedings to claim, “there was no blood on the knife.”
Defense counsel Stephen Deavor argued for the dismissal of the attempted murder charge, questioning the specific size of the knife used in the attack.
However, ADA Chen countered that the size of the weapon was of little consequence, arguing that stabbing someone in the head six times constitutes a clear attempt to kill by targeting a vital area of the body.
Judge Lang sided with the prosecution, agreeing to hold Brown on all counts.
Following the court’s decision, Brown remains detained at the county jail in Concord, with bail set at 10% of $1 million, as she awaits formal arraignment at the County Courthouse in Media on July 16.
In addition to the ongoing proceedings related to the stabbing incident, further charges of aggravated assault against a designated individual and assault by a prisoner were filed against Brown on May 2, although specific details regarding those allegations have yet to be disclosed.
The preliminary hearing for these new charges is set for June 12, again before Judge Lang.
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