Robbers shoot armored truck driver near South Philly bank-Police officer murdered in separate shooting
Philadelphia PA October 13, 2023
An armored truck driver is fighting for his life after he was shot and robbed near a South Philadelphia bank Thursday afternoon.
Police said the 24-year-old Brinks employee was dropping off cash at an ATM at the Bank of America along the 1900 block of South Christopher Columbus Boulevard at 2:34 p.m.
As he was making the delivery, two suspects who were inside a tan or gold sedan that was parked in front of him approached him, police said.
A struggle ensued and the suspects then opened fire, police said. Police said the employee was wearing a bulletproof vest, but the bullet missed the vest and struck him at least once in the chest.
The suspects then stole the security officer’s gun as well as a bag full of an undisclosed amount of money, according to investigators.
The suspects fled the scene and were last seen in a sedan traveling on Snyder Avenue, according to investigators. Police said there may have been a third suspect who was the getaway driver.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he is currently in critical condition.
Police said they’re unsure if the victim was targeted or if it was a crime of opportunity.
“Obviously we’re going to check all these cameras around here, see if this truck was followed around for a while but folks know, they see an armored car, they’re going to either be picking up or dropping off money,” Philadelphia Police Sergeant Eric Gripp said. “So we’re not entirely sure if this was targeted, if this was something that just came up the spur of the moment, or if this individual had been followed around for quite some time. But obviously, we’re pulling for him to make it through this.”
The FBI is currently leading the investigation while Philadelphia Police are assisting. Investigators have not yet released descriptions of the suspects but are currently looking at surveillance video.
‘Those that are responsible for this, we need to get them in custody as quickly as possible,” Gripp said. “Because not only do they have their own weapon, but they also have this security guard’s gun as well.”
POLICE OFFICER MURDERED- 2nd OFFICER SHOT
In an unrelated incident just hours later, a Philadelphia police officer was murdered, and a second officer was shot as they interrupted an auto burglary at the airport parking garage.
The officer died shortly after 11:30 p.m. at a hospital. His name wasn’t released, but he was 50 years old and had 22 years with the force. The officer was married and had one child.
They were at the hospital when the officer passed away.
The other officer was in stable condition. He is 60 years old and has 20 years with the police department, Stanford said. Both were assigned to the airport unit.
Police said suspects in the shooting fled in a stolen Dodger Durango, which was being sought, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The same model car dropped off an 18-year-old man at the hospital. He had two gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead there, the paper said.
