2 accused of picking up cash instead of helping store clerk shot in the face during robbery in Northeast Philadelphia
Philadelphia police are searching for a man who shot a store clerk in the face Sunday night. They are also questioning two men accused of picking up money that the robber left behind, instead of helping the victim.
Action News was there the moment officers were patting down the men outside the Bridge Market and Wireless Store.
The store is located at the corner of Bridge St. and Torresdale Ave. in the city's Frankford section.
Surveillance video captured the incident around 11 p.m., when a masked man entered the store and fired a single shot through a gap in the bulletproof glass, striking the employee, who was counting money at the time.
"He pulled out a firearm, put it in between the bulletproof glass and fired one shot, striking the store employee that was actually counting money at the time," said Capt. Tyrell McCoy of the Philadelphia Police Department.
Investigators said the shooter then kicked down a security door, grabbed as much cash as possible, and fled on foot. Shortly after, two other men entered the store.
The men are not accused of shooting the store employee, but police say officers saw them on surveillance video.
"Several minutes later after that store employee was shot, several other individuals entered the rear of that establishment and began to pick up proceeds from that robbery," said Capt. Tyrell McCoy, with the Philadelphia Police Department.
It remains unclear whether they were involved in the robbery or simply acted on the opportunity.
Police said this all started when a man entered the store around 11 p.m. Sunday, as the employee was counting money behind bullet proof glass.
Investigators said the suspect was able to put the gun through an opening in the glass and shot the employee in the face.
Officers said the suspect was facing away from the surveillance camera, but they're working on getting additional angles.
"We just know there was male dressed in all black clothing, pulled out that fire arm, shot one time and then after he was able to pick up as much money as he could he actually fled," McCoy said.
Investigators said the 27-year-old victim survived and that officers rushed him to the hospital.
Sources said the victim lives in an apartment above the store.
"If it can happen there, it can happen here," said Pablo Rodriguez, who works next door.
Rodriguez said he didn't know the victim personally but saw him frequently and described the incident as a troubling reminder of the risks faced by late-night workers.
"In this type of job there is always gonna be something crazy," Rodriguez said. "In 2021 I used to work at Kensington and Clearfield smoke shop there. I got stabbed."
