Philadelphia man with license to carry shoots, kills would-be car thief: reports

Car theft is at least fourth reported incident in Philadelphia in which victim turns tables on would-be thieves

A Philadelphia homeowner with a license to carry walked out on a trio of thieves while they were attempting to steal his car Tuesday morning, shooting and killing one suspect, according to local reports.

The attempted car theft unfolded around 8:17 a.m. on the 5800 block of Cobbs Creek Parkway when three unknown men approached the victim’s vehicle, FOX29 Philadelphia reported, citing police.

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The suspects tried to attach yellow cables to the car to tow it away, but were caught when the homeowner came outside, WPVI-TV reported, citing sources.

The victim, who legally carried a firearm, shot one of the suspects who was only identified as a 52-year-old male, police said. The suspect was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

During the attempted theft, the victim’s car broke off from the attached cables and rolled into the side of a school bus, the sources told the station. No further injuries were reported.

Students were on board the bus at the time and were seen being taking off and boarding another bus following the incident, WCAU-TV reported.

Philadelphia police told Fox News that the incident is still under investigation and would release more information when available.

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The attempted car theft follows a series of similar incidents in which victims turned the tables on would-be car thieves in Philadelphia.

On Thursday, a 60-year-old man with a license to carry shot a 16-year-old male who attempted to carjack him, FOX29 reported. The victim told police that the teen and an accomplice had pointed a gun in his face before he drew his own weapon and exchanged gunfire. The teen was wounded and later arrested.

Last week, a 32-year-old victim, who also carried a firearm legally, was sitting in his car when an armed 18-year-old suspect pointed a gun at him. The victim fired through the car window, hitting the suspect multiple times. The 18-year-old was later arrested.

The 32-year-old victim was sitting in his Honda Accord just before midnight on Folsom Street in Philadelphia when an armed man approached the driver side door and pointed a gun at him. (FOX29 Philadelphia WTXF)

A third incident happened on Jan. 3 when two men carjacked a Lyft driver who had a license to carry a firearm. The driver shot both suspects, who were each wounded and arrested shortly after the incident.

A Philadelphia Lyft driver with a license to carry a firearm shot two suspects who carjacked him on Jan. 3, authorities said. (FOX29 Philadelphia WTXF)

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Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw last week called the uptick in carjacking incidents "one of the more disturbing trends that we have seen." 

Philadelphia police said they have received nearly 90 reports of carjacking incidents since the start of the new year. There were 757 carjackings reported in all of 2021, up 34% from the year prior. 

Police have said they have contributed more resources to fighting an uptick of carjackings. 

Fox News’ Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report.

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