PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A young Philadelphia man was killed early Tuesday morning while police say he was protecting his girlfriend from robbers.
The 18-year-old was shot in the chest right in front of a charter school, about three blocks from Temple University’s campus.
Ahmir Jones was walking with his girlfriend just after 2 a.m. along Cecil B. Moore Avenue, near 17th Street, when two men approached them.
“At least one of them had a firearm,” said Chief Inspector Frank Vanore. “We believe a robbery was announced at this point. During the course of the robbery, we know one individual had items taken.”
Vanore said one of the two men grabbed the girlfriend’s cellphone, and Jones stepped in front to protect her. That’s when, he said, one of the men shot Jones in the chest.
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He died at the hospital.
“Detectives are still looking for video and other evidence in the area to see if we can get a better description of the perpetrators in the case,” Vanore added.
Police say the suspects fled on foot west on Cecil B. Moore.
More than 480 people have been killed so far this year in Philadelphia.