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Wild video shows suspect escape after stabbing man aboard Toronto train; fleeing passengers ignore pleas for help

July 7, 2023 | | Print Article

“When a hero like Daniel Penny is needed.”

While Daniel Penny is fighting to stay out of prison for coming to the aid of straphangers in New York City when a mentally disturbed career criminal began threatening to kill people, a man in Toronto was repeatedly stabbed on a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) train while commuters ignored his pleas for help or ran in the opposite direction.

The disturbing attack was captured on video Thursday afternoon as the train was in motion. A black man armed with a knife is seen fighting a white guy, and after one lunge a bright red blood stain can be seen on the white man’s t-shirt.

The stabbed man was seen attempting to fight his attacker off, punching and kicking the man, but eventually began fleeing through the train crying out for help that never came.

As they reached the other end of the car, a voice could be heard yelling, “He’s stabbing him up! He’s killing him!”

“Oh my God, I can’t get off the train!” another passenger is heard saying.

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The armed man escaped when the train reached the station and remained at large Friday morning, according to Toronto police.

The victim was stabbed multiple times and was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Duty Inspector Michelle Olszewski, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, called the stabbing an “isolated incident,” explaining that it was “not random.”

“This was an isolated incident and it appears there was a verbal disagreement between the suspect and the victim prior to the stabbing occurring,” Olszewski told reporters. “Whether or not they are known to each other I didn’t know.”

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Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw noted in a tweet Thursday evening that the victim’s condition was improving.

“I am disturbed by this incident & all acts of violence on transit. I am relieved the victim’s condition is improving,” Demkiw tweeted. “Officers are actively pursuing the suspect. Everyone deserves to feel safe while on transit & we continue to support all public safety needs in partnership with TTC.”

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:

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Tom Tillison
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