PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia police were forced to shoot a robbery suspect after he allegedly reached for what appeared to be a real weapon Tuesday evening.

The incident happened shortly before 7 p.m. near the intersection of Island Avenue and Lindbergh Boulevard in Southwest Philadelphia.

According to police, the incident began when a 19-year-old suspect on a bike attempted to rob a woman in the parking of a ShopRite supermarket.

The female was able to escape, but the suspect then robbed two other individuals.

Three officers, who were assigned to the airport nearby, were on dinner break at a Subway store when they were alerted by a witness to the robberies.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they confronted the suspect.

“He was reaching for something they saw what they thought was a weapon. They asked him to drop it, he did not comply,” Chief Insp. Cynthia Dorsey explained.

One officer opened fire, striking the suspect in the knee and ankle. The suspect was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in stable condition.

No officers were injured.

After a search, investigators said the suspect was using a toy gun.

The suspect is expected to face several charges. The incident remains under police investigation.