PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The parents of a Macy’s security guard who was killed in a knife attack inside the Center City store last year have sued Macy’s Retail Holdings for failing to protect employees adequately.
Eric Harrison was stabbed to death on Dec. 4, 2023, by Tyrone Tunnell — a shoplifter he stopped from stealing some hats.
Tunnell pleaded guilty two weeks ago — just one day after the anniversary of Harrison’s murder — but Harrison’s father, Eric Coates, says it hasn’t brought closure.
“I can’t sleep at night knowing this could have been prevented,” Coates said.
Harrison’s mother, Dawn Fobbs, says she too is haunted by what she considers Macy’s negligence.
“My child died in between the Polo and the Tommy Hilfiger department. He died on their sales floor. The reason why we’re filing this is, I don’t want this to happen to anyone else’s child,” Fobbs said.
Fobbs works in retail and this time of year, in addition to the rush of shoppers, there is an extra heartache.
“I’m out there every day making sure everybody has their Christmas gifts and I’m hurting and crying inside because I am lack thereof my child.”
Fobbs maintains in the lawsuit that Macy’s was negligent by failing to assess the threat of violent crime in the store and not hiring sufficient security staff or providing them with protective equipment.
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Macy’s said it can’t comment on pending litigation.
The suit also seeks damages from the police department, alleging an unidentified office shared surveillance video of Harrison dying on social media — a practice, it says is a “known and growing problem through the department.” The department said it cannot comment because of the suit.
The lawsuit also takes aim at Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, alleging he “effectively legalized” shoplifting with a policy change after his election in 2018 that reduced any theft under $500 to a summary offense. The lawsuit calls it an “invitation to steal” that “evolved into a wave of increasingly violent… and brazen retail theft.”
Krasner’s office declined to comment.
Fobbs’ attorney hinted more suits might be coming, saying the family is working with Christian Mitchell, another Macy’s guard who was injured in the knife attack.