Upper Darby T-Mobile customer stabbed while disputing bill

Schoolfield: Salesman is on the lam after stabbing.
Schoolfield: Salesman is on the lam after stabbing.
BY STEPHANIE FARR, Daily News Staff Writer farrs@phillynews.com, 215-854-4225
Posted: November 15, 2012

THIS GUY was obviously not a smart phone salesman.

A customer who went to an Upper Darby T-Mobile store Tuesday to complain about his bill left with a stab wound to his abdomen that police said had been inflicted by an employee.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said the 59-year-old victim went to the store on State Road near Lansdowne Avenue about 1:15 p.m. to complain about being double-billed.

What started out as a conversation between the customer and employee Darnell Schoolfield devolved into a physical confrontation, police said. During the fight, the customer ripped Schoolfield's name tag from his shirt and took the tag to the Upper Darby police station to file an assault complaint.

"During the course of filing the complaint, he realizes he's bleeding profusely from the left side of the stomach," Chitwood said. "He'd thought he was just punched."

The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he had surgery and was listed in serious condition. It's unknown what Schoolfield used to allegedly stab the victim or how their interaction went so awry.

Schoolfield, 21, of Harmer Street near 55th in Philadelphia, remained on the lam Wednesday night. Police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of attempted murder, Chitwood said.

In a written statement, a corporate T-Mobile spokesman wrote that the company was "shocked and saddened" to hear about the incident.

The spokesman would not comment on whether the customer would still have to pay the bill in question.

" @FarFarrAway

Blog: philly.com/dailydelco

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