Delco Man Charged With Attempted Murder In July 4 SEPTA Stabbing

BROOKHAVEN, PA — A Delaware County man has been charged with attempted murder and more crimes after an Independence Day stabbing at a SEPTA station in Philadelphia, and state authorities said a Special Prosecutor for Mass Transit will prosecute the case.

Daniel Williams, 35, of Brookhaven, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the stabbing.

Williams stabbed a 66-year-old man from behind as the victim was standing on a platform at the Berks station along the Market-Frankford Line [L], according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. The victim is still in critical condition.

In the attack, investigators compiled surveillance video that showed Williams with a knife in his hand approach the victim from behind and stab him, authorities said.

Williams ran off and threw the knife, according to the AG's office.

Bystanders pointed responding officers to Williams’ location, and he was taken into custody.

"My office is committed to keeping every community of the Commonwealth safe, and that includes on mass transit vehicles and at stations that have far too often been the scenes of violent crimes like this one," Attorney General Dave Sunday said. "The state legislature passed and the Governor signed Act 40 into law as a means to provide further protections for commuters who use mass transit in Philadelphia and SEPTA employees. I fully intend to use this tool to work towards a safer Pennsylvania."

Act 40, which was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor in December 2023, required the Office of Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor to “investigate and institute criminal proceedings” for violations of law occurring within SEPTA.

Williams is being held on $800,000 bail. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday was continued to Aug. 6.