Armed carjacking crew in Philly set sights on wrong victim — a plainclothes security guard who doesn't hesitate to fire his own gun

An armed crew of Philadelphia carjackers sure picked the wrong victim earlier this week — a plainclothes security guard who didn't hesitate to pull his own gun and fire it when he sensed trouble.

While the security guard ended up wounded, and it isn't known if any of the assailants were hit, the would-be carjackers took off running, and their apparent plan was foiled.

What are the details?

The 43-year-old plainclothes guard tried to take his car to work before 10 p.m., but it wouldn't start, police told WPVI-TV. As he walked to his wife's car, police said four males approached, two moving in one direction and the other two in another direction, the station said.

Police told WPVI the security guard went for his gun, after which at least one of the suspects told him "don't do it."

At that point, an exchange of gunfire commenced between the guard and the would-be carjackers, the station said, adding that at least one of the suspects was armed.

During the shootout in the 300 block of Earlham Terrace in the Germantown neighborhood, police told WPVI the guard's gun malfunctioned; earlier police reports suggested the guard's gun was disabled after getting hit by gunfire, but the station said that wasn't the case.

What happened next?

Police told WPVI the guard was shot once in the left shoulder and grazed in the forehead, after which he was taken to an area hospital and listed in critical but stable condition. No other injuries were reported, the station added.

The guard's vehicle and another unattended parked vehicle were hit by gunfire, WPVI said.

Investigators are trying to track down four male suspects connected to the attack, the station reported, adding that authorities have obtained video they hope will help identify them.

'I still love it here'

Neighbors who heard the shootout are nervous, WPVI said.

"The gentleman is a nice person, and I'm really surprised this happened here," neighbor Robert Haz told the station.

"The violence is encroaching us so closely, it's scary, but I still love it here," resident Nancy Jackson added to WPVI.

Anyone with information can call police at 215-686-TIPS, the station said.

(H/T: Police Tribune)