Victim of random stabbing identified

A man fatally stabbed in an apparently random attack in North Philadelphia has been identified as 56-year-old Edward Prescott of Wissinoming.

Police said Prescott was sitting on steps at North 7th and Brown Streets, on the eastern edge of Northern Liberties, about 5:55 p.m. Monday when a man walked up and stabbed him once in the chest.

He made his way to a nearby house and died, police said.

A block away, the assailant stabbed and critically wounded a 31-year-old Temple Law student who was taking items out of his car, police said.

Police said nothing was taken from the victims and that it appeared they had been chosen randomly.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department's tip hotline at 215-686-8477.