UPDATE: Police identified the victim as 50-year-old Tony Harris. Harris, who worked as an electronics repairman, recently posted on Facebook a photo of his wife holding bundles of cash that he claimed amounted to $60,000, according to reports. Police say it was done as a joke, but may have prompted the attempted robbery and shooting.
Police are looking for three suspects who shot in the head and killed a 50-year-old man, a married father of three young children, during a home invasion robbery near 54th and Warrington. Police say the home invasion took place shortly after 11 p.m. on Monday on the 1100 block of S. Ruby Street. The intruders, described as three teenagers wearing masks, entered the house through the unlocked front door. They found the man, his wife, ad three children ages 5, 2 and 10 months upstairs.
One of the men, armed with a black and silver handgun, took the woman to the kitchen where he put the gun to her head and demanded money, according to a police report. Then she heard another man yelling at her husband in the living room, asking: “Where’s the money?” She then heard a single gunshot. She found her husband lying on the floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The woman called police. Police say they found a shotgun on the front porch when they arrived.
The man was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition and later died, according to reports. His wife and children were not hurt, according to police.
Police say they also found a crashed, overturned car and a handgun covered with blood inside it near 51st and Locust. They are checking to see if the car may have been used by the suspects in their getaway.
October 13th, 2015 at 10:46 am
I am so sorry, to this man’s family. Their lives are forever altered – over a little cash.
October 13th, 2015 at 11:54 am
I am so so sorry for their loss. This is INSANE.
October 13th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
It is possible, and not far fetched to think, that if there were arrests made in the recent Irving Street Shootings, this horrible death may have been averted.
Philly.com report reads that a crashed car at 51st and locust, where blood and handguns were found, may be linked to this murder (which is only one block away from Irving.)
October 13th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
My deepest sympathies go out to this family. Wishing them peace and healing on the long, long road ahead.
October 13th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
I would suspect at least 1 of these 3 has a police record, and once the car is dusted for prints, it should lead to someone, at least.
This is why, if I’m ever mugged, I hope it’s by an older/experienced criminal. They know how to do what they do w/o freaking out and shooting. It’s a sad reality that we have to think this way.
October 13th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Agreed. However, this was not a mugging. Muggings are usually random.
Unfortunately if the gentleman were still alive, he would be able to shed some light on who these criminals are.
Again, if the criminals who were shooting in the Irving Street shootings spoke up to the cops about the other shooters who got away, maybe this heinous crime could have been stopped.
October 13th, 2015 at 8:07 pm
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20151014_Man_shot_in_head_during_home_invasion_robbery.html
October 13th, 2015 at 8:38 pm
Must have been why the helicopters were flying overhead this morning. But I can’t think of much dumber than posting a wad of money on Facebook. I’m sure these idiots will be arrested, if only because all police have to do is trace through Facebook to find friends whose children or friends of friends fit the description. It’s too bad that man had to lose his life over something so stupid and preventable. Social media can be dangerous.
October 20th, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Rest in Peace Tony. He was my best friend, a cool guy, laid back always willing to go extra mile to help all those in need of anything that he could provide. I am sure He is in a better place
December 30th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
This is on steve wilkos show today