You might want to think twice about taking a nap on the subway next time

Thomas Scantling Hammer Attack in Philadelphia
by Joe DeFranceschi


The graphic video above shows an attack that occurred on a Philadelphia subway last week. Philadelphia police arrested Thomas Scantling, 26 year-old with a criminal history, and charged him with attempted murder.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the attack is that nobody on the subway, and there were a number of fellow passengers, did nothing to protect 20 year-old Dewayne Taylor as he was being attacked. He received numerous stitches and a broken finger and says he does not know his attacker or have any idea why he was targeted.

As the video shows, Thomas Scantling ushers his 5-year-old son to a seat before taking a hammer out of his backpack and attacking Dewayne Taylor who is sitting in another seat. The fight continues onto a subway platform where Scantling allegedly tried to throw Taylor onto the tracks.

Police arrested Thomas Scantling at a mental hospital on Tuesday. Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey said of the passive bystanders: "They better pray they're never a victim, because if someone was attacking them that way, they would certainly hope someone would step forward and help, and it starts with stepping forward and doing something yourself."

Reports are saying that this guy was upset that others were too close to him and his son.
And to be honest I'm not sure about the "stepping forward" part, unless you were armed yourself, although you would hope that someone would help. Clearly this guy was trying to kill the victim with that hammer, and last time I checked, a hammer versus your fists is far from a fair fight.


Mr. Starks