Man shot during attempted car theft in East Falls

The suspects fled without the car.

6abc Digital Staff Image
Monday, July 10, 2023
Man shot during attempted car theft in East Falls
A man was shot while trying to fend off two men who were trying to steal his car.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man is in the hospital after he was shot trying to stop a car thief in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.

It happened early Sunday morning on the 3400 block of Sunnyside Avenue. Police are now looking for two suspects.

"Scary stuff, obviously," said Tim Connors of East Falls.

Police say a 28-year-old man who lives on the block saw someone trying to steal his Hyundai Sonata.

"I heard a police car and I could see the flashing lights kind of reflecting and I was like, 'Oh, something is going on. It's not good," said Connors.

The victim ran out of his house and tackled the suspect. That's when investigators say another man shot him in the chest.

"It feels very powerless. I think we're all really freaked out by it," said Amee Mickhael of East Falls.

Police transported the man to Temple University Hospital where he remains in critical condition. Neighbors say they're shocked it happened on their block.

"That kind of stuff doesn't happen around here. It's a nice, quiet block so yeah, scary stuff," said Connors.

"It's really scary, it's really unnerving. I feel like we have such a safe neighborhood and this block, especially, is like such a strong community," said Mickhael.

The men got away in a white sedan.