Would-be carjacker shot, killed in apparent case of self-defense: Philadelphia police
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man is dead after being shot multiple times in Philadelphia's Pennsport section early Tuesday morning.
Police responded to the 1400 block of S. Front Street around 5 a.m.
When they arrived, they found a man between 18 and 22 years old with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, the deceased was one of two individuals who attempted to carjack a 38-year-old man in the former United Artist Theater parking lot.
The victim pulled a weapon and shot one of the would-be carjackers in what police say looks like a case of self-defense.
The shooter did remain at the scene, was briefly detained, and then later released by investigators.
In a surveillance video viewed by Action News, you can see a person run from the direction of the parking lot and then collapse by a utility pole moments later.
About five minutes later, someone approaches the body to seemingly check on the person.
Neighbors who live nearby said they heard what sounded like gunshots during this time.
The noise was so loud that Zion Aregahegn said it woke her out of her sleep.
"I heard a loud boom or a bang kind of sound," Aregahegn said. "A few seconds later, I heard someone shout. I couldn't tell what they were saying. It was just-someone shouted."
Aregahegn said she generally felt safe in the neighborhood but had some recent concerns about activity under the I-95 overpass. She said it was a place where people often parked and used drugs.
She's called the police in the past but said she got little to no help.
"A lot of people pull up under here to fix their cars and I've seen people passed out doing drugs under there," Aregahegn recalled.
Jordan Lewis, who lives up the street from where the incident happened, said she often passes the area on her morning run.
She said she had noticed people doing drugs under the overpass but never saw or heard of any violence breaking out there.
"Usually, it's kind of quiet. I run on the trail along the water and there's a lot of homeless people but they never really bother me or anything like that," she said.
Lewis said she always tries to be aware of her surroundings but this incident heightened her instincts to be on the lookout even more.
No other details have been released at this time and police are investigating this incident.
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