PHILADEPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – A suspect was fatally shot by a homeowner after he was caught trespassing and breaking into a vehicle in West Philadelphia. Police received a 911 call just after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting gunshots in the 4400 block of Fairmount Avenue.
Upon arrival, responding officers found a man suffering from multiple gunshots on the ground between two homes in the 700 block of 44th Street. He was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and was pronounced dead a short time later.
An investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly entered a fenced area behind a home on Fairmount Avenue and threw a brick into the window of a 2018 Alfa Romeo SUV parked there. Upon hearing noises, the 49-year-old homeowner came out of the home to confront the trespasser, shooting the man.
In a statement, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said, “We believe the homeowner fired at least three shots from a semi-automatic weapon. We found three spent shell casings in the backyard area. Small added that the suspect was able to run about a half a block from the scene before collapsing.
Officers recovered a brick on the driver’s seat of the SUV as well as the firearm used by the homeowner to shoot the suspect. According to police, the homeowner is cooperating with investigators.
Prior to receiving the 911 call reporting the gunshots, police received several calls reporting a masked trespasser in other back yards in the area as well as a call reporting a man breaking into a vehicle. “We believe these calls are related to the shooting,” Small said. Police were familiar with the deceased, who’s last known address is two blocks from where he was shot.
