A storage-facility manager was critically wounded Monday night after an armed robber forced him and a customer to kneel during a holdup at Good Deal Self Storage in Northeast Philadelphia, police said.
Investigators said the shooting happened just after 7 p.m. inside the business on the 5400 block of Eadom Street. The 57-year-old manager was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery for gunshot wounds to his shoulder and chest, police said, adding that he remained in critical condition.
Police said surveillance video captured the confrontation from start to finish. According to investigators, a man entered the office while the manager and a customer were inside, then pushed both behind the counter and ordered them to the floor. After grabbing cash from the register, the gunman fired multiple times and ran, authorities said. The customer was not hurt.
Investigators described the suspect as wearing a dark jacket, blue jeans, a light-colored mask covering his face, and surgical gloves. Police said he fled on what witnesses described as either an electric bike or a scooter. Detectives have been reviewing video from the business and nearby cameras, and canvassing the surrounding blocks for additional witnesses.
The attack lands amid an early-year decline in several major crime categories citywide, even as high-profile robberies continue to rattle workers and customers. Philadelphia police statistics through Feb. 3 show robberies committed with a gun down about 13% year-to-date compared with the same period last year (92 vs. 106); robberies categorized as “other” were down nearly 10% (158 vs. 175). Over the same span, the department’s dashboard shows total violent crime down about 15% and total property crime down about 23% citywide.
Small storefront businesses still remain a common target because of predictable routines, limited staffing, and the perception of accessible cash. Detectives have not said whether the gunman appeared to know the layout of the office or the location of the register before entering.
Police are urging anyone who recognizes the suspect or saw someone fleeing in the area around the time of the robbery to come forward. As per the department’s tip-line notice: “Got a Tip? Dial: 215.686.TIPS (8477).”
The investigation remains open, and no arrest has been announced in the case as of the latest police update.
