Macy's Security Guard Killed After Confronting Shoplifter in Philadelphia

Two employees at a Philadelphia Macy's location were stabbed—killing one and injuring the other—while attempting to stop an alleged shoplifter.

The incident began at approximately 10:45 a.m. ET, the Philadelphia Police Department reported, at the Center City Macy's location at 1300 Market Street in central Philadelphia, one block from City Hall. Two security guards at the store confronted an unnamed male individual attempting to shoplift several hats from the department store. In the initial confrontation, the security guards were able to get the products back and let the individual go, ABC 6 News reported.

The Center City Macy's location has been among the businesses most heavily impacted by retail theft in Philadelphia, with Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford noting that the location has over 250 reports this year. Earlier this year, Forbes ranked Pennsylvania as the fifth worst state in the U.S. for retail theft.

At approximately 11:02 a.m. ET, police confirmed to Newsweek, the suspect returned to the two security guards brandishing a knife. During this confrontation, the department explained that one of the guards, 30, was stabbed in the neck once, while the other, 23, was stabbed in the face and once in the face.

Both men were transported to Jefferson Hospital for treatment. The older employee who suffered a neck wound was ultimately pronounced dead by hospital staff, while the younger employee was said to be in stable condition as of 1 p.m. ET. ABC 6 reported that one of the guards had been employed at Macy's for a few years, while the other had only been working there for a few months.

After this incident, the suspect fled the scene, leaving behind the knife and attempting to get away on public transit. He was, however, later apprehended by officers for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) at the Somerset train station and positively identified by witnesses from the Macy's location.

Charges have not yet been filed against the alleged attacker and the investigation remains ongoing, with multiple crime scenes being examined.

Macy's told Newsweek in a statement: "We are heartbroken about the incident that took place today at Macy's Center City. The store will temporarily remain closed as we work with law enforcement on this investigation and defer any further comments about the case to them. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority."

While retail theft remains an issue in many metro areas, like most major U.S. cities, Philadelphia has seen a recent downturn in violent crime after experiencing a sharp uptick during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that persisted in the years after. According to police data, the city has seen 386 homicides in 2023, down from 474 in 2022 and the recent peak of 516 in 2021. The last time the number was lower was in 2019, when 328 homicides were reported.

Update 12/4/23 2:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.