A man was shot and killed despite his wife’s emotional plea during a home invasion in Philadelphia late Monday night.
The incident happened about 11:15 p.m. Monday inside a home in the 1100 block of S. Ruby Street in the city’s Kingsessing neighborhood.
Investigators say the three armed, masked suspects, possibly in their teens, entered the home through an unlocked door and confronted Tony Harris and his wife. The suspects led the female into the kitchen at gunpoint.
The gunmen demanded "the money" while putting guns to the head of both victims in the living room, said Philadelphia Police homicide Unit Capt. James Clark.
The female, according to police, told the suspects that the family was “poor” and didn’t have any money. A struggle ensued.
One gunman then shot 50-year-old Harris once in the head. He later died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
After shooting the victim, the suspects ran out of the home. Originally it was reported that the left behind a rifle, but Clark later said no gun was left.
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"We believe they're young, in the area of the 17 to 19 years of age range," said Clark.
The couple’s three young children - a 5-year-old, 2-year-old and 10-month-old -- were inside the home at the time, but they were not injured.
A short time later, police found an overturned Chevy Malibu at 51st and Locust Streets, which is a short distance from the home invasion scene. Investigators say a bloody handgun was found in the car, which was unoccupied. Investigators looked at the Malibu as possibly the getaway car used in the home invasion.
Clark didn't confirm if the car was involved.
It wasn't clear why the attackers thought there was a large sum of money in the home, said Clark.
"We don't believe they got away with anything," said Clark.
A Facebook post featuring the man's wife with a large sum of money could have been a motive for the incident but Clark said at this point it wasn't clear.
Clark also said that Harris' job as an personal electronic repairman could also have been motive but that nothing was definite.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
