A 17-year-old teen mom died early Sunday morning after police say she was stabbed in a drugstore parking lot in Philadelphia.
Police were called to the Walgreens parking lot at Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue in the Hunting Park neighborhood just before 3:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found Anita Cotton suffering from several stab wounds to her neck, back and arm.
Kimberly Knight told NBC10 she was sitting on her porch across the street from the scene when she spotted a large group of young people fighting.
"She was stabbed," Knight said. "She was holding her neck. Then she went right down."
Cotton was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 3:40 a.m. The homicide was one of several on a violent night throughout Philadelphia.
Friends of Cotton say she was likely walking back to her home in Nicetown at the time of the stabbing.
"She was probably watching the fireworks," said Latoya Donaldson. "That's all I can say. I dont know what happened but I know she's not the type to want to be in a fight."
Friends and family told NBC10 Cotton leaves behind a young daughter.
"She was always out there," said Novella Davis, the victim's neighbor. "She had the baby on the porch playing with the baby. She was a good mom."
Detectives continue to investigate the fatal stabbing and police did not release any information on a suspect or motive early Sunday morning. They also say they have surveillance video of the fight leading up to the stabbing.
A $20,000 reward is being offered for an arrest in the case.
An anti-violence march and prayer vigil were held for Cotton Monday night. The participants gathered at 40th and Lancaster Avenue at 5:30 p.m. and marched to 41st and Ogden Street where 11 people were shot on June 20.
