A Montgomery County gym employee is recovering in the hospital after being stabbed multiple times during a violent confrontation on Thursday at a Planet Fitness in Wyncote, according to police.
Authorities said the employee was stabbed by a former gym member who had been banned from the business.
Police and emergency medical crews were called to the Planet Fitness at Cedarbrook Plaza on South Easton Road just after 12:30 p.m. The victim was rushed to the hospital with lifethreatening injuries.
At last check, both the victim and the suspect remained hospitalized. Police said charges will be filed immediately once the suspect is released.
The stabbing prompted the gym to close, with visitors arriving to find a sign reading “closed due to an unexpected emergency.”
Video from the Citizen app showed the immediate aftermath as sirens sounded at the scene.
Police said the suspect had been banned on Wednesday, related to an unpaid bill, but returned to the gym twice on Thursday and caused a disturbance. Investigators said it was during the second visit that the altercation escalated and the employee was stabbed multiple times.
“I might have to switch gyms now after hearing that,” said George Kanattu of Cheltenham Township.
“It’s a little scary. I thought it was more of a secure safe place,” he said.
Police said the suspect was apprehended a short distance away within the same shopping center and was taken to the hospital in unknown condition. Neither the suspect nor the victim has been identified.
“This is blowing my mind. This has never happened before,” Tene Bullock of Cheltenham Township, who has been a member of the gym for a few years.
In a statement, the gym said, “We are saddened by the incident that took place at our Cheltenham location. Our thoughts are with the team member as they recover. We appreciate local law enforcement’s quick action, and the franchise owner is fully supporting them in their investigation.”
Kanattu said he was told the gym will reopen on Monday.
