Cash-Checking Store Owner Shot, Killed During Robbery In Philadelphia's Ogontz Section, Police Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A shooting during a robbery at a check-cashing store in Philadelphia's Ogontz neighborhood has left the owner dead. Chopper 3 was live over the 5800 block of Old York Road.
Police say in-store surveillance cameras were rolling the entire time this deadly robbery happened and now they are asking for your help to find the man who pulled the trigger on a woman as children were next door inside a day care.
"It's kind of scary because she goes to school right here," Jamal Tucker said.
"I thought it was the day care. Then I realized it was next door, but it's like dang, it's right here," Nyesha Harrison said.
Parents were stunned as they arrived to pick up their children from day care on the 5800 block of Old York Road Tuesday afternoon, only to realize tragedy happened one shop over in broad daylight.
"They found a 67-year-old female laying on the floor," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
Police say at 12:19 p.m., the owner of Any Checks Cashed briefly stepped outside when a man with a gun followed her back inside, forcing her through a security door into the office, intent on robbing the business.
The owner put up a fight, struggling with the armed robber, investigators say.
"He fires the shot from point-blank range while they are struggling, striking her in the chest and that's when she collapses," Small said.
Police found her body shortly after 1 p.m. after a customer called 911. The suspect got away with an unidentified amount of money.
Customers say a husband and wife run this business. Eyewitness News was there as detectives walked her family through the crime scene. A square cut-out from a metal door marks the place where that single bullet ultimately landed.
"People have no regard for life. It's sad," Tucker said.
Hours after, the weight of this senseless loss lingers.
"It's hitting home because it's always going to be somebody's family member. One day it could be my family member," Tucker said.
Police say they will be releasing that store surveillance video as soon as possible, hopeful to catch the person who did this.
They describe the suspect as a man wearing a blue possibly hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and dark shoes. Anyone with information is asked to give police a call.
For a list of gun violence resources in Philadelphia, click here.
