Off-duty sheriff's deputy shoots at alleged car thief in Southwest Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An off-duty sheriff's deputy and a family member opened fire on a teenager suspected of attempting to steal the deputy's personal car, according to Philadelphia police.

It happened around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday on the 7300 block of Bunting Place in Southwest Philadelphia.

According to Chief Inspector Scott Small, the deputy spotted a suspected car thief trying to break into his personal vehicle, a black Honda Accord, which was parked outside of his home.

The deputy and a family member went outside and fired their weapons a total of four times, shooting the 17-year-old male suspect twice in the leg.

At this point in the investigation, it's unclear who struck the suspect.

The suspected thief got into a waiting vehicle and fled the scene.

About 20 minutes later, police were notified about a shooting victim who arrived at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The victim was found with tools that could be used to steal cars, including key fob cloning devices. Investigators said he did not have a gun when he arrived at the hospital.

The sheriff's deputy went to the hospital and positively identified the 17-year-old.

The teen is listed in stable condition.

The deputy and the family member who fired shots are cooperating with the investigation. Police say the family member has a license to carry a firearm.

The identities of those involved have not yet been released.

Neighbors told police that stolen vehicles have been an ongoing issue in the area. One resident, Abdul Amdouseydou, said the situation was understandable.

"He's protecting his stuff, so there's nothing crazy about it. The crazy part is being a 17-year-old breaking into people's cars," Amdouseydou said.

Another neighbor, Beauty Maleka, said the incident was still troubling.

"It's terrifying to know that a 17-year-old got shot because you're breaking into somebody's car. It shouldn't be that way. You should be in school, you should be sleeping. It's very devastating," Maleka said.

There's no word if any other vehicles were broken into on Tuesday.

Investigators are reviewing home surveillance footage from neighbors.

The sheriff's office had no comment when contacted about the deputy's status.

The incident remains under investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department's officer-involved shooting investigation team and the Sheriff's Office's internal affairs bureau.