A masked figure with a pickax has now struck South Philadelphia's CKO Kickboxing studio for the third time, according to the owner, leaving shattered glass and a front door that is once again boarded up instead of welcoming members. Surveillance footage shared with the owner shows the same unnerving ritual in the most recent attack: a masked person walks up and smashes the studio's front door. Instructors and members have put classes on pause as the small neighborhood gym absorbs yet another round of damage.
As reported by 6abc, the first incident hit on Feb. 14 (Valentine's morning), and the studio was struck again on a Tuesday while about 10 people were in class. Surveillance video included in the report shows a masked person smashing the glass door on a Monday, and the entrance was still boarded up the next day. The owner told reporters she called 911 during the March 24 incident and that police took someone into custody. Sources told Action News that person was later placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold and no charges were filed after that arrest.
CKO Kickboxing's site lists the South Philly gym as a studio offering group heavy-bag classes for all fitness levels, with a local schedule and contact information available online. The studio sits on Oregon Avenue near 21st Street, where the owner says two other businesses on the block were also hit during the Feb. 14 incidents. Members who typically attend classes there said they are worried about the pattern of returns and the risk to people inside when the glass keeps getting smashed.
Owner Calls For Help, Not Retaliation
The owner says she wants the person responsible to get help so the situation does not spiral into physical violence, and she remains baffled about why her studio has become the target. The repeated damage has forced the business to keep its door boarded up and to disrupt regular programming while police continue to investigate what is going on.
Police Investigating; No Charges Yet
Philadelphia police are investigating the vandalism, and the owner says officers responded after the March 24 incident. As 6abc reports, sources told Action News that the person taken into custody that day was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold and that prosecutors had not filed charges at the time of reporting.
What's Next For The Studio
The local CKO site continues to list class options and contact info, but for now the South Philly studio has effectively closed its door for repairs while the owner assesses damage and works with investigators. She says she hopes the added attention will help bring a quicker resolution and restore a sense of safety for neighbors and members. Police have asked anyone with information about the string of attacks to come forward.
