Police investigating fatal shooting at Port Richmond Royal Farms as possible self-defense

Police are investigating a fatal shooting inside a Royal Farms in Port Richmond Sunday night that authorities say may have been an act of self-defense.

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. at the Royal Farms at Aramingo Avenue and Church Street.

Police said officers arrived to find a 22-year-old man lying on the sidewalk outside the store with multiple gunshot wounds.

"Upon arrival officers discovered a male who we have yet to identify laying on the ground on the sidewalk in front of the store suffering for multiple gunshot wounds to the body," Inspector D.F. Pace said.

According to investigators, surveillance video captured a confrontation that began inside the store between two men.

Inspector Pace said the 22-year-old man with black curly hair approached a 21-year-old Hispanic man and confronted him.

"The person with the curly hair pulls out a gun, first keeps it at his side by his leg but then extends his arm and points the gun at the other person's head and neck area," Pace said.

Police say the second man then drew his own firearm and opened fire.

"This other individual who we now know to be a 21-year-old Hispanic male pulls out a gun himself and fires at least three times at the person who initially put a gun toward his head and neck area," Pace said.

The man who was shot stumbled outside and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Investigators say the shooter remained at the scene, is cooperating with police and has a license to carry a firearm.

"This does appear to be a case of an individual defending himself from an aggressor with a gun," Pace said.

Police also took another man into custody at the scene.

Investigators allege a 45-year-old man approached the man shot after he collapsed and, rather than rendering aid, began recording and/or photographing him.

Police said the gun had fallen to the ground nearby and the man then kicked the weapon underneath trash cans outside the store.

"He began either filming or taking pictures of the man who was down on the ground. Wasn't rendering any aid was just taking pictures. The gun which had fallen out of the now victim's hand was laying beside him. That 45-year-old male then approached the gun and kicked it underneath some trash cans on the location," Pace said.

Detectives later recovered the weapon.

Police said the 45-year-old man is expected to be charged with tampering with evidence.

Authorities emphasized the investigation remains active and that the final determination on whether the shooting qualifies as self-defense will be made by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.