Suspect dead after woman alerts police to home invasion in Northeast Philadelphia

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police say a suspected burglar is dead, shot by an officer during an ambush and home invasion in Northeast Philadelphia.

The incident happened at 12:45 a.m. Friday in the 900 block of Wakeling Street.

According to police, two armed suspects wearing masks and gloves were waiting for the homeowners to arrive.

They forced the homeowners inside, triggering an automatic alarm, which alerted police.

Officers arrived and knocked on the door.

Police say one of the suspects who had removed his mask answered the door and told police everything was fine.

The officer weren't buying it and asked for identification. The suspect went back inside and told the female homeowner to show some ID.

The woman went to the door and told police everything was fine, but managed to signal with her eyes and body language that something was wrong.

"The officer pulled her out and stepped inside and that's when he was confronted by the gunman, who at one point put the gun to the officer's head," said Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

Police say the suspect fired three shots but missed. The officer returned fire striking the 42-year-old male suspect, killing him.

The second suspect managed to escape through the back door of the home and remains at large.

Police took away a Mazda sedan, which they believe was meant to be used as the getaway vehicle.

The 31-year-old officer has been put on desk duty as is protocol while internal affairs investigates.

This most recent incident was the third police-involved shooting of a suspect in a week.