Alleged Rittenhouse Square Stabber Released On Bail

PHILADELPHIA – Michael White, the 21-year-old Philadelphia man accused of stabbing Sean Schellenger, 37, to death in Rittenhouse Square during a July 12 altercation, has been released on bail Thursday, court records show.

White posted 10 percent of his $150,000 bail Thursday, according to court records.

Part of the bail agreement requires White to be on house arrest and placed under electronic monitoring.

White had his first-degree murder charge reduced to third-degree murder, as well as had a voluntary manslaughter charge added to his docket, Wednesday. The possession of an instrument of crime charge was held over.

He is slated to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on Oct. 30, according to court records.

White is accused of stabbing and killing Schellenger on July 12 in Rittenhouse Square following an alleged altercation between the two.

The DA's office said it needs to conduct further interviews with witnesses.

White turned himself over to police on July 14.

Schellinger was stabbed once in the back after getting into an altercation with a man on a bike, believed to be White, police said. The Philadelphia real estate developer was rushed to Jefferson Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:21 p.m., according to police.

It all stemmed from a traffic issue, police said. He and two other men were in a vehicle heading east on Chancellor Street when traffic got snarled at 17th Street.

Schellenger and the two other men got out of their vehicle to try to clear the jam, according to police. That's when police said the White rode up to the scene.

Words were exchanged between White and Schellenger and an altercation then ensued, police said. White – believed to be delivering food – then pulled out a large knife and stabbed Schellenger once in the back, police said.

Police said White fled heading north in the Rittenhouse Square area, leaving his bike and a food delivery bag.

Image via Philadelphia Police