Philadelphia man who attacked sleeping subway rider with hammer gets 4 to 10 years
By Maryclaire Dale, APFriday, November 13, 2009
Philly subway hammer attacker gets 4 to 10 years
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man who says he was off his schizophrenia medications when he attacked a sleeping subway rider with a hammer has been sentenced to four to 10 years in prison.
Thomas Scantling was sentenced Friday for a September 2008 attack caught on security videotape.
Security footage shows Scantling pulling a hammer from a backpack and repeatedly striking 20-year-old DeWayne Taylor before pulling him from the train onto a subway platform in Philadelphia.
Moments before, Scantling had guided his 6-year-old son to an open seat.
The 27-year-old Scantling pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and a weapons charge.
YOUR VIEW POINT
