Updated: 6 p.m., Dec. 5, 2023
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Macy’s security guard is dead, and another is in critical condition at the hospital after police say someone suspected of stealing attacked the pair late Monday morning while the store was packed with holiday shoppers.
Acting Police Commissioner John Stanford said Monday the incident started just inside the Market Street entrance around 10:45 a.m. when members of the store’s loss prevention team stopped a man trying to steal hats and kicked him out of the store.
That man, later identified as Tyrone Tunnell, returned minutes later with a switchblade knife — looking for the two guards who confronted him.
"This man leaves the store for 13 minutes, and he returns again, specifically looking for those two security guards who escorted him out, taking a knife and plunging it into a vital part of the victim’s body," Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said Tuesday.
One of the guards, Eric Harrison, 27, was stabbed in the neck and died at the hospital, police say. The other guard, a 23-year-old man, was stabbed in the face and arm.
"The second security guard that was stabbed, ... who tackled the defendant after he stabbed Mr. Harrison who brought him down — he was stabbed in the process," Pescatore said. "He is currently in critical but stable condition. He had to have surgery because of his wounds."
Police say Tunnell fled on SEPTA's Market Frankford Line, entering via the 13th Street station. SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said transit police were able to track Tunnell in real time, using the network of 30,000 cameras throughout the transit system.
Authorities say they were able to see him throw away the knife — which they later retrieved — and get on the subway. SEPTA transit officers were able to stop him and arrest him in Kensington.
Tunnell is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, theft and several other related offenses. Officials say Tunnell has an extensive record of retail-related arrests and convictions, not only in Philadelphia, but also in Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware counties, as well as drug-related charges.
'You have to have a heart'
The store was packed with shoppers on Monday who said they had no idea what was going on, even after they heard an announcement over the loudspeaker.
Denisha, visiting from Dallas, wanted to catch the Macy’s holiday light show and do a little shipping for her grandchild.
“And then, all of a sudden, a guy came on and he was saying, ‘Macy’s is currently closed. Please get to the nearest exit.’”
After the announcement, she said things got chaotic. Sales associates pulled people out of dressing rooms, the registers were shut down, and customers were told to evacuate — but no one knew exactly why.
Cheerful holiday music was playing inside and outside the department store as customers exited the building en masse. On the sidewalk, just steps outside the Market Street entrance, between 13th and Broad streets, was a puddle of blood and a set of bloody footprints.
Flashing lights from police cars shone in the display windows mixed morbidly with the holiday decor. A reflection of the times? Tammy from West Philadelphia, who works nearby, thinks so.
“I don’t shop in Center City anymore,” she said. “Oh, at one time I did, but now — in fear of people robbing you, you know, killing you over senseless stuff.”
But Gwen from South Philadelphia thinks differently. She was on her way to Macy’s when the stabbings happened. But she said she is not going to rethink where she goes as a Center City shopper.
“No, I am not — because you can’t live your life being afraid. Oh, no. You ask God to cover you. You go on. You cannot be afraid,” she said, her eyes welling with tears.
“Because you have to have a heart. You have to feel for people. Nothing was worth losing their life over. They came to work just like you came to work today.”
Stanford echoed her sentiment.
“Just a tragic situation, right here, a few weeks before the holiday. These security guards are just doing their job. They are here to make sure that people can come to this location and shop in a safe manner,” he said.
“And the fact that you have an incident like this occur, on a Monday morning, at a major retail in Center City is troubling. At the end of the day, it is a bit concerning for our city. We have to continue to push and continue to work together.”
With the entrance to the store cordoned off with caution tape, Macy’s was closed for the rest of the day. A spokesperson released a statement for the store. It reads, in part:
“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.”