By Salam Bustanji
A security guard was killed and another was injured in a stabbing incident at the Macy’s department store in Center City Philadelphia on Monday morning.
The suspect, who was allegedly trying to shoplift hats, was arrested after fleeing on public transportation (SEPTA).
According to Philadelphia police, the incident started around 10:45 a.m. when the male suspect attempted to steal several hats from the store located at 13th and Market streets, one block from City Hall. He was confronted by two security guards, who managed to retrieve the merchandise and let him go.
However, the suspect returned about 15 minutes later and attacked one of the guards with a knife. The other guard tried to intervene and was also stabbed multiple times. Both victims were taken to the hospital by police, where one of them, a 30-year-old man, was pronounced dead at 11:19 a.m. due to a stab wound to the neck. The other guard, a 23-year-old man, was stabbed in the face and left arm and is in stable condition.
Police say the suspect fled the scene on a SEPTA bus and dropped a knife on SEPTA property. He was apprehended at the Somerset station around noon and was positively identified by witnesses, Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford said.
The names of the victims have not been released by the authorities, but police say they were both Macy’s employees and were not armed. One of them had been working at the store for a few years, while the other had only been there for a few months.
"We are heartbroken about the incident that took place today at Macy's Center City. The store will temporarily remain closed as we work with law enforcement on this investigation and defer any further comments about the case to them. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority," Macy's said in a statement.
The stabbing caused a large police presence and an ambulance outside the Macy’s store, which was cordoned off by yellow tape. Video footage showed shoppers waiting outside the store, some of them visibly shaken by the incident.
Macy’s is one of the locations in Center City that has been hit the hardest by retail theft, according to Stanford. He said that the store has filed over 250 reports of retail theft this year.
The incident also raised questions about the security measures at the store and the risks faced by the staff. Some shoppers said they felt unsafe and wondered why the suspect was allowed to leave the first time. Others said they appreciated the work of the security guards and hoped for their recovery.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and the motive of the suspect is still unclear. Police say they are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the sequence of events. They are also working with SEPTA to recover the knife that was dropped by the suspect.
The suspect is expected to face charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and related offenses. He is currently being held at the police headquarters and has not been identified yet.
By Salam Bustanji
