A man in southwest Philadelphia defended himself and his property when four juveniles allegedly attempted to steal his vehicle. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, resulted in two of the suspects being shot. Both are 13 years old and were later taken to the hospital where they remain in stable condition.
Authorities report that the event took place around 6:13 p.m. on the 5900 block of Windsor Street after a neighbor informed the car owner about the attempted theft of his Honda. The man, who holds a legal firearm license, confronted the teenagers outside.
During the confrontation, police state that one of the teenagers brandished a firearm. In response, “a lawful gun owner with a concealed carry permit” fired at least seven shots, hitting two suspects. These injured teens fled but were found one block away and received treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The other two suspects initially escaped but were captured by police shortly thereafter.
The entire episode was recorded on private surveillance footage. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small mentioned that detectives are investigating whether the teenage suspect who pulled a gun also fired any shots. As of now, no firearm from the teenager has been recovered.
Community reactions vary; some residents sympathize with the juveniles due to their age while others back “the car owner’s right to defend his property and himself when faced with a threat.” Community outreach workers have provided support and resources following this incident.
Potential charges against the suspects include attempted auto theft, robbery, weapons violations, and attempted carjacking. The district attorney’s office will decide on any charges to be filed.
Currently cooperating fully with investigators, no charges have been filed against the vehicle owner at this time.
The police encourage anyone with additional information regarding this case to contact their Shooting Investigations Group or leave an anonymous tip.
