A 14-year-old boy shot a would-be robber in the face Thursday after the man attacked the boy’s father at a pizza shop in Philadelphia, police say.
The events unfolded just before 10 p.m. on Thursday night at Bold Pizza. A man walked into the shop intending to rob it, police said, forcibly reaching over the counter attempting to steal money from the register.
A pizza shop employee attempted to stop the man when the attempted robber put his hands around the employee’s neck. The employee’s son, a 14-year-old boy, grabbed a gun, legally owned by the employee, from behind a counter and shot the attempted robber in the face.
Bullet or bullets went through the head of one robber and hit the ear of another robber.
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The would-be robber left the pizza shop after the shooting, and police tracked him, following a trail of blood, to a nearby subway station. Officers found the suspect bleeding from his face in the station. Authorities took the man to Jefferson Hospital where he was placed in critical condition.
“From following the trail of blood, we also found some cash in the subway where the victim was found,” Small said.
Residents who lived nearby the pizza shop expressed support for the 14-year-old’s actions while expressing remorse that they were necessary.
“I think most people would do that in that situation to protect someone they love and they’re being threatened so violently,” Nina Adams told WPVI.
“I am very proud and its kind of sad that a 14-year-old had to shoot the suspect, but it was quick thinking and I’m glad they were able to catch the person so fast,” Raina Harris said.
Police believe the same suspect was likely involved in another robbery that took place about five minutes earlier at a nearby CVS on the 400 block of North Broad Street, roughly two blocks away from the pizzeria. During that incident, three men entered the store and robbed the pharmacy.
Police analyzed surveillance video from inside the pharmacy and determined one of the three suspects matched the description of the suspect who was shot in the face.
Authorities did not say whether the suspect nor the teen would face any charges.
