Group Of Teens Wanted In Federal Hill Robbery, Stabbing
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Brutal stabbing. A man is robbed and attacked by a group of teens riding mopeds in Federal Hill.
Mike Hellgren reports the victim remains in critical condition following the attack.
Police have yet to make any arrests, but a reward is being offered. The victim's father says his son is looking much better. He continues to recover at Shock Trauma.
Salvatore Schittino is still in the hospital--more than three days after a vicious attack and robbery on Federal Hill that left him fighting for his life.
It happened on Wall Street--just a short distance from Light Street--in the heart of the neighborhood.
Just after 4 a.m. Sunday, four men on mopeds tackled Schittino. His father says they stabbed him in the heart, liver and lung.
"They weren't out to hurt him, they were out to kill him. I'm scared, and the whole community should be scared. These guys... maybe next time they'll succeed," his father, Sal Schittino, Sr., said.
The men got away with Schittino's wallet and phone and left him for dead. The attack may have been captured on a security camera.
"He just kind of turned and ran. Just threw the wallet behind him. Someone yelled 'get off him.' And when they yelled 'get off him,' the guys jumped on their mopeds and took off," Schittino, Sr. said.
There is concern that initial reports of what happened were inaccurate and police waited days to release an official account. Police have declined to answer questions.
"The problem is that a couple different people have a different version of the story, and that quickly got out of control," said Eric Costello, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association.
"We're especially concerned with the opening of the casino next week that there will be more people in the neighborhood," said Morgan Alcalay, South Baltimore Neighborhood Association. "We want to make sure everyone stays safe."
Dana Nixon lives just feet from the stabbing.
"I do see police officers riding by, so I would say it's secure. I know when somebody broke into our home that they did say this is a safer area in Baltimore, but I guess you never know," Nixon said.
Schittino's dad says his son will recover and believes it's important to get the men behind the attack off the streets.
"We were lucky. He's going to be fine, he's going to make a 100 percent recovery. If they get somebody else, maybe they won't be as lucky," Schittino, Sr. said.
Schittino was supposed to start grad school next week. He works at Sheppard Pratt and graduated from Loyola Blakefield and Washington College, where he played basketball.
Other Local News: