Key Takeaways
- A licensed concealed carrier defended himself at a Frankford convenience store, where police ruled the shooting justified.
- The 21-year-old victim of the altercation had a valid carry permit and faced an imminent threat when he fired his weapon.
- The 22-year-old assailant, who aimed a gun at the 21-year-old, later died from his injuries.
- After the shooting, a 45-year-old man interfered with evidence by moving the attacker’s gun, leading to his arrest.
- Surveillance video confirmed the 21-year-old’s account, supporting his self-defense claim.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A licensed concealed carrier defended himself at a Frankford convenience store last month and police say the shooting was justified.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the Royal Farms store. They say a 22-year-old man pulled a gun on a 21-year-old man during an altercation.
The 21-year-old holds a valid license to carry. According to police, he drew his own firearm and fired on the man who was pointing a gun at him.
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That is exactly what a carry permit is for. A man with a gun aimed at him was facing an imminent threat to his life, and he answered it.
The 22-year-old was taken to Temple Hospital and later died. The 21-year-old was not arrested. Police say the evidence points to self-defense.
The story took an uglier turn after the shots stopped. Police arrested a 45-year-old man at the scene for interfering with evidence and with the victim.
Officers say the man walked up to the wounded 22-year-old and started filming and taking pictures. Then, police say, he went to the attacker’s dropped gun and kicked it under nearby trash cans.
That firearm was central to what happened. Moving it could have muddied a clear-cut self-defense case and put an innocent man at risk of charges he never should have faced.
The video told the real story. It backed up the man who did nothing more than refuse to die at a gas station.
As a permit to carry instructor, I teach my students to avoid making statements immediately after an incident but rather to say, “I wish to cooperate completely but before I make a statement, I would like to have my attorney present. Until then I invoke my right to remain silent.” However, I also tell them that while not answering questions about your actions at the incident, you should point out who witnessed the incident and any evidence that they don’t appear to notice (like a handgun under a trash can). Obviously, they are also required by law to provide identification and contact information.