The owner of a Hunting Park grocery store was shot and his friend was killed during an apparent robbery attempt Sunday night, according to Philadelphia Police.
Investigators say four armed men entered the La Familia Latina Mini Market on the 3300 block of N 5th Street just before 9 p.m. and shot the store owner once in the stomach, say police.
Originally it was reported that a 26-year-old man who was found shot and killed nearby was one of the robbers but police say that man was actually a victim who was trying to chase down the suspects.
Rafael Ramos del Valle's sister Yessenia Colon del Valle says her brother was the man shot and killed.
Yessenia says the alleged robbers pushed aside her brother and shot the store owner. Her brother then grabbed the owner's gun and ran after the suspects, she says.
He was pronounced dead a short time after being found shot twice about two blocks away, according to police.
"He was a giving person and he didn’t deserve to die like that," Yessenia said. "All he wanted to do was catch the robbers and he got shot. He was not a suspect, he was a friend, and the suspects got away -- so whoever knows about this needs to come forward."
The suspects left the scene in a gold Buick SUV, according to investigators.
The SUV was found a short time later on the 3500 block of N 5th Street. Police are searching for the suspects.
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The store owner was listed in stable condition late Monday morning.
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