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Bronx Residents On Edge Following Random Attacks Of Suspected Slasher

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The search for a Bronx slasher has left anxious neighbors fearing the suspect may strike again.

Lasatta Lodge, 77, said she is afraid to go outside after the daunting warning of an attacker on the loose spread quickly through her neighborhood.

"Gracious God! They have to get him off the streets," Lodge told CBS 2's Weijia Jiang on Wednesday. "I'm scared. You're walking and somebody gonna slash you? That's terrible."

Authorities said the suspect has already attacked two people, apparently at random, and didn't steal anything from them.

One of the victims was a 60-year-old man who was attacked shortly before 9 p.m. on Sunday. The other was a 65-year-old woman who was slashed in the face in broad daylight on Monday. The attacks both came on Boston Road in Williamsbridge.

The victims were treated at Jacobi Hospital and released.

Police have circulated a surveillance image of a suspect, who is wanted for cutting the two pedestrians with an unknown, but sharp, object.

On Tuesday night, one man who works at a Tony's Pizza near one of the attacks said he rushed to help the male victim, who stumbled into the restaurant clenching his neck.

"The whole floor was full of blood, then he takes out the tissue, his throat was open," he said. "He said he was just walking, out of nowhere just a guy just slash his throat."

Right now the motive is unclear, but it appears the suspect just wants to hurt people. Police said he did not try to talk to either victim, or try to take any of their belongings.

"Around here, that's unheard of, but this world is going crazy. What can you do? You have to be aware," said local resident Glen Stewart.

The suspect is described as 5-foot-9, 150 pounds and was last seen wearing a white shirt. Until he's caught, residents said they would remain extremely vigilant.

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