Young Man Attacked On Federal Hill Shares Story Of Survival

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In an instant, a young man's life changed forever when a teenager attacked him and tried to kill him as he walked to a friend's house in Federal Hill. Now, two months after the frightening ordeal, he is talking about the person who left him for dead.

Investigator Mike Hellgren has his emotional story and the continuing search for those behind the brutality.

The motive remains a mystery. While police say it was a robbery, the victim says nothing was taken and that it appears the attacker just wanted to hurt him. He's worried there could be other targets ahead.

Sal Schittino Junior is living with the emotional and physical scars of a brutal attack in August not far from Cross Street Market in Federal Hill.

"That night, I had to basically accept that I was going to die. And that terrified me," Schittino said. "I was stabbed in four different places."

The liver, the heart, the lungs, and one last time, as he tried to run, in the back.

"What really scares me about the situation is that he was there to commit a murder. There was no act of robbery," he said.

Unfortunately, because surveillance camera images are so grainy, building a case could come down to the suspect saying something to someone they knew.

"People talked about it probably after the fact so we're asking for anybody who may have heard anything to please come forward," said Lt. Sarah Connolly, Baltimore City Police.

Schittino says two young people targeted him. He gave them his wallet, but they didn't want it. He'll never forget the one with the knife.

"The anger in this kid's face. That's one thing I will never forget. It felt personal at the time," Schittino said.

Schittino is not letting violence define him and has drawn strength from friends and family.

"The next day is never guaranteed. So the only choice that we have is really to live this day to the fullest," he said.

He believes it's essential to get whoever did this off the street so no one else has to live through his nightmare.

"A kid that young wanting to commit a crime that severe against another human being--it's scary, it really is. I hope to God that something changes," Schittino said.

Doctors say Schittino will have some lingering lung issues but otherwise will have a full recovery.

A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. You can remain anonymous.

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