Suspect in custody in stabbing of Philadelphia councilman

A man sought in the stabbing of a Philadelphia city councilman during an attempted robbery near his residence has turned himself in, authorities said Saturday.

The 24-year-old suspect arrived at the police station accompanied by an attorney who said he asserts his innocence. Police said he was expected to be arraigned late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Police earlier called the suspect “armed and dangerous” as he was being sought in the stabbing of Republican Councilman David Oh, who said he was coming home from work Wednesday night when a man he didn’t recognize approached, demanded his car keys and stabbed him in the left side. He was hospitalized overnight and returned to work Friday, officials said.

Oh, who is married and has four children, was elected to the council in 2011. He’s the first Asian-American elected to office in Philadelphia and the council’s only U.S. military veteran.

Lt. John Walker said the suspect was identified through interviews with neighbors, the councilman and relatives, and police asked his family to encourage him to turn himself in. The councilman didn’t know the suspect, who was believed to be homeless or “living from house to house,” Walker said.

“Everybody worked as a team to get this gentleman off the street so he doesn’t harm anybody else,” Walker said.

Council president Darrell Clarke said in a message on Twitter after the suspect was in custody that he was “praying for justice” — peace for the Oh’s family,” and a change of heart and destiny for this individual someday.”