The shooting happened in the 2600 block of North Napa Street just before 10 a.m.
"I heard the shots. I heard two of them," said a neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
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According to investigators, a 31-year-old armed man attempted to rob another man when the second male pulled out a gun and shot the would-be robber in the chest.
The robbery suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
This case is now being reviewed by the state attorney general's office as the shooter, acting in self defense, is an employee of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
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"This is an active investigation that has been appropriately referred to another agency. We have no further comment at this time," said a spokesperson for the DA's office.
Robin High-Smith lives nearby and said she parks her car in the area to go to work.
"It's a horrible thing there's too much going on. There's too much killing out here. I have kids here, grandkids here, it's hard. I'm here trying to go to work and for this to happen outside my job, it's just too much," said High-Smith.