Social worker stabbed 21 times in NJ office building

CAMDEN, N.J. -- A New Jersey social worker is hospitalized after being stabbed repeatedly inside a state office building.

The stabbing occurred around 1:30 p.m. Monday in an office building on the 100 block of Haddon Avenue.

Action News is told the woman, who is an employee with the Department of Children and Families, was stabbed 21 times in the incident.

"She was on top of her just stabbing her and stabbing her," Angel Moore explained.

Moore, of Camden, tells Action News that she was with her caseworker on the fourth floor of the state office building when the attack occurred.

She says it was that much more terrifying to see the attacker was someone she has known since childhood - someone Moore described as a person who has been dealing with mental issues for years.

"I know she's been through some stuff. She takes medication. I just talked to her mom, she has not been taking her medication," Moore said.

Witnesses we spoke with say the attacker simply pulled out a knife and started stabbing the employee repeatedly.

The victim was rushed to Cooper University Hospital for treatment. She underwent surgery and is now on life support.

Larry Randall, the victim's union representative, says this incident could have been avoided if this building was equipped with metal detectors.

Randall says, "It's almost appalling. Because if you think about what our members do ... you need to be protected when you're inside these buildings."

The attacker did run from the building, but police say a suspect has been arrested.

The names of the victim and suspect have not yet been released.