Ambush-style attempted robbery ends with shooting in Bala Cynwyd apartment building: Police

LOWER MERION TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A man was seriously injured after a suspected attempted robbery ended in gunfire inside a Bala Cynwyd apartment building on Saturday night.

It happened just before 11 p.m. on the unit block of St. Asaphs Road.

Officers responded to the scene for reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found a male victim in the main lobby.

The victim, a 39-year-old resident of the building, was suffering from several gunshot wounds.

He was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition, police say.

An initial investigation suggests that the shooting stemmed from an unsuccessful ambush-style robbery in the garage stairwell. The suspects, who police say may be armed, fled the area.

"It's believed to be a group of people. I don't have a specific number or description of the suspects for you. We are in the early stages of investigation to try to gather information," said Lower Merion Township Police Sergeant Micheal Keenan.

Residents in the building told Action News they were shocked following the incident.

"It's upsetting it was actually in the building like that, you know, we are in those spaces. On a normal Saturday night, we might be in the garage, we might be in the lobby," said resident Will Leach.

Saturday's gunfire isn't the first shooting incident at the 3-year-old luxury apartment building, the Delwyn Apartments.

In January 2022, a 24-year-old Philadelphia woman shot and killed her mother's fiancé in the lobby.

"So having now two of those certainly it's, of course, a little more upsetting," said Leach.

Residents we spoke with say they still feel safe and have no plans to move.

Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and does not appear to be random, but they encourage residents and the general public to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially at night.

"Please be careful and aware of your surroundings. If you're coming and going at night time, especially from a garage to your apartment, if you're using stairwells that aren't frequented by multiple people, take time to look around your surroundings and make sure that everything is ok. If you feel concerned or if you feel like there's something unsafe going on, go back to a public area, go back to the lobby, and call the police. We're happy to come out and make sure everything's okay," Keenan said.

Investigators say the victim in this case is being cooperative but anyone who may have information on the suspects is asked to call Lower Merion police at 610-649-1000 or 610-645-6228.