A Philadelphia man acted in self-defense when he shot a 16-year-old who attempted to rob him using a fake gun, according to police. The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. Sunday in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, as reported by 6abc in Philadelphia.
The 16-year-old suspect, along with an accomplice, approached the 21-year-old man on the street and attempted to rob him by flashing what appeared to be a firearm. Unbeknownst to the teens, the victim was armed with a real 9 mm pistol and was also licensed to carry. In response to the threat, the man drew and fired his weapon, wounding the suspect in the leg as he turned to flee.
Philadelphia police say the shooting, which was caught on surveillance video, was a clear case of self-defense.
“The victim ran up to a vehicle that was parked, and the operator of that vehicle is licensed to carry,” an officer said in scanner traffic when police arrived at the scene and reported by 6abc..
The wounded teen was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where he remains in stable condition. Officers recovered both a fake gun, which was used in the robbery attempt, and the 9 mm pistol fired by the victim.
“We heard gunshots, bang, bang, bang,” a neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, told 6abc. “We looked out and saw somebody running and a guy running. It’s unusual on this block.”
According to data from 6abc, there have been 27 self-defense shootings in Philadelphia over the last year, down from 37 the previous year and 49 the year before that.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of self-defense rights for law-abiding citizens, particularly in cities facing high crime rates.
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