7-11 Worker Hugs Off-Duty Officer Who Shot Gunman

An off-duty officer shot and killed a man who was allegedly trying to rob the 7-11 across the street from St. Joe's University early Friday morning.

Brian Clarke heard the gunshots from his dorm and came running downstairs to see what was going on.

"I look out the front door and see a man holding a gun over a guy laying on the ground. After a minute he identified himself as an off-duty police officer," said Clarke.

The off-duty officer walked in on the hold-up around 3 a.m., according to investigators. The officer chased the gunman, who ran out of the store and into a parking lot behind the St. Joe's dormitory. That's where the off-duty highway patrolman shot the suspect twice in the chest, killing him.

"We heard somebody holler, 'somebody call 911. Somebody got shot,'" said Phil Price who jumped off a SEPTA bus to see if he could help.

"I had dialed 911 but I didn't get an answer, so I dialed again and when I did get an answer it was a Philadelphia officer…and I directed him as he pulled up," said Price.

Lower Merion and Philly police flooded the scene and shut City Avenue down in that area while they investigated.

As the off-duty officer was walking police back through what happened, the 7-11 manager came outside and the two shook hands and then hugged each other.

Police are expected to release more details on the shooting later in the day.

Contact Us