Man allegedly stabbed teenage girl who made fun of his body odor at the mall

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (TCN) — A 23-year-old man is behind bars for aggravated assault and related charges in connection with a knife attack on a teenage girl. 

On April 15, police responded to a mall after receiving a report of a girl who had been attacked by a man with a knife. First responders located the girl, 14, who had stab wounds on her arms. She was taken to the hospital and treated; her injuries were reportedly not life-threatening, according to NBC Philadelphia. Police spoke to witnesses and obtained a description of the suspect. They located Angel Ortiz at a bus stop less than 30 minutes later.

When he was arrested, Ortiz was carrying two pocketknives and allegedly told police he had acted in self-defense, stating that the girl had hit him first, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC Philadelphia. 

During the investigation, the victim, whose name has not been released, was interviewed at the hospital. She said she had gone to the mall with friends and was joking with them on the escalator that one of them smelled bad. She said they then turned around and told Ortiz, who was standing behind them, that he smelled bad. Ortiz allegedly began to yell at the group.

Once they were off the escalator, Ortiz allegedly got in the girl’s face and told her several times to hit him, which she told interviewers she did. Ortiz then allegedly attacked her with a knife.

Ortiz told police he was scared for his life, according to WXIN. According to surveillance video viewed by authorities as well as statements from witnesses, Ortiz was seen being followed and hit by the girl before he allegedly attacked her with the knife.

NBC Philadelphia reports Ortiz is behind bars, charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, and harassment. He is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing on April 29.

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