PHILADELPHIA, PA — A man with a concealed carry permit shot two teenage suspects Tuesday evening as they attempted to steal his vehicle in Southwest Philadelphia, according to police. The incident occurred around 6:13 p.m. on the 5900 block of Windsor Street.
Authorities say the car owner was alerted by a neighbor that a group of four juveniles appeared to be breaking into his Honda. Upon confronting them, at least one of the suspects allegedly pulled out a firearm.
“We’re not certain right now if that one juvenile who pulled the gun fired any shots. We don’t know at this time,” said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. “That’s when the owner of the vehicle pulled his weapon and fired, we believe seven shots, striking the two 13-year-olds.”
One suspect was struck in the leg, while the other was shot in the lower back. Both were transported to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in stable condition. The other two suspects fled but were later detained and identified by the vehicle owner as part of the group.
Authorities have not yet recovered the firearm allegedly brandished by one of the teens. The investigation is ongoing, and charges for the juveniles could include attempted auto theft, robbery, weapons offenses, and attempted carjacking. The case will ultimately be reviewed by the District Attorney’s office to determine potential charges.
The car owner, who has a Pennsylvania License to Carry, is cooperating with law enforcement.
A Risky Confrontation
While this incident resulted in the vehicle owner successfully defending himself, confronting car thieves is an extremely dangerous situation—especially when outnumbered. Had the suspects been faster in drawing their weapon, this could have ended very differently. A car, no matter how important, is replaceable—your life is not. If you find yourself in a similar situation, calling the police and keeping a safe distance is often the best course of action.
