A Brooklyn woman has been arrested in Philadelphia on charges related to the stabbing of two people on April 13, including a 1-year-old boy. Takeira Hester, 28, was reportedly out on bail on charges of assaulting another person on a New York City subway in 2022 when she allegedly randomly attacked a 24-year-old woman first and then later in the day, stabbed a baby in a stroller. Both instances occurred in the City Center neighborhood.
Per the New York Post, Hester allegedly skipped out on a court appearance on April 11 in the New York City case just days before the most recent attacks. Now, she faces attempted murder charges connected with the brazen stabbings.
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The first stabbing occurred early in the morning.
Hester allegedly attacked her first victim around 8 a.m. in the 1300 block of Chancellor Street in Center City, according to 6 ABC. She reportedly approached the woman and stabbed her in the chest before running off. The victim was taken to Jefferson University Hospital for treatment of a stab wound and was later released.
A few hours later, the suspect allegedly attacked another family.
Hester allegedly approached a mother and father and their 1-year-old twin boys outside Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel synagogue in the 300 block of South 18th Street about 12:30 p.m., according to 6 ABC. She reportedly stabbed one of the twins in the arm while he was sitting in his stroller.
"It looked like this female just rushed up to them, nothing was said, completely random, tried to stab both children but got one child in each arm," Philadelphia Police Detective Frank Bamford said during a news conference.
The father reportedly tried to catch Hester.
According to the Post, the twins' father allegedly chased Hester down the street, but she got away. During her escape, she reportedly dropped her bag, which contained enough clues to lead police to her. She was arrested several hours later.
Hester allegedly stabbed a Good Samaritan in New York in 2022.
Hester and another woman got into an altercation on the subway in October 2022, the Post reported. At the time, a Good Samaritan apparently tried to stop the fight, but Hester fought back and stabbed him. She was arrested on a second-degree assault charge and held on a $10,000 cash bond, which she posted, and was released.
She was due in court for that case on April 11, but she didn't appear.
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She now faces attempted murder charges.
Hester is in a Philadelphia jail on a $75,000 cash bond for the most recent stabbings, according to the Post. In addition to attempted murder, she also faces charges of aggravated assault, weapon possession, simple assault, and reckless endangerment. It was unclear when she will appear in court next.
Both victims are said to be in stable condition.
