Police search for suspects in fatal Chinatown stabbing

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Police and homicide detectives returned to Chinatown Wednesday evening looking for evidence in the murder of a 28-year-old Cherry Hill man outside a popular bar that left visitors to the area concerned.

"I'm really surprised. I feel like it's a really safe area when I'm walking home I never feel unsafe," Julian Khalifa told FOX 29.

Police say Brett Berdini and his girlfriend had just left Johnnie Walker's Lounge on the second floor of Chinatown Square around 2 a.m. after a night out in Chinatown that's when he was attacked by a group of men at 10th and Race and stabbed. Berdini died from his injuries Wednesday morning.

"Some sort of altercation or dispute between him and several people and he was attacked rather violently by those people. During the attack, he sustained several stab wounds," Philadelphia Police Captain Sekou Kinebrew explained.

Police say murders are unusual in Chinatown with the streets normally busy with visitors and restaurant patrons.

Investigators spent Wednesday evening canvassing the restaurants and stores here for surveillance video of the attack. Sources say they have already recovered video of the incident and are looking for more witnesses.

"Right in the heart of Center City, party night, Saturday night into Sunday. People should be out there having fun and enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, that didn't happen Saturday night," Captain Kinebrew said.

Homicide detectives say they're looking for four or five Asian males. They also say Berdini's wallet may have been stolen at the crime scene. They are trying to determine if his credit cards were used in the hours after the stabbing. There's a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.