A fatal stabbing at a Macy’s department store in Center City, Philadelphia, resulted in the death of one security guard and injuries to another. The incident unfolded on Monday, December 4, 2023, shortly before 11 a.m.
A thief, Tyrone Tunnell, 30, initially tried to shoplift hats from Macy’s, which led to a confrontation with the store’s security team. After the security guards retrieved the stolen merchandise, Tunnell was allowed to leave.
Approximately 15 minutes after leaving, Tunnell came back to Macy’s, this time with a knife. During a subsequent assault, he inflicted stab wounds on two security guards. One of the guards, 27-year-old Eric Harrison, sustained a lethal injury to his neck and was declared dead at a hospital at 11:19 a.m. The other guard, 23-year-old Christian Mitchell, suffered stabs to his face and arm and was admitted to the hospital in stable condition.
After the incident, Tunnell escaped the store and boarded a SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) train. The police arrested him later at a nearby train station, around noon, thanks to the SEPTA surveillance system capturing his presence. Before his capture, Tunnell attempted to discard the knife on the railway tracks, which was recorded on camera.
The Philadelphia Police Department, led by Interim Commissioner John Stanford, affirmed that the attacked individuals were unarmed employees of Macy’s. Stanford commented on the tragic nature of the incident, particularly its occurrence during the holiday season, a critical time for security personnel in ensuring public safety.
Macy’s, a prominent retail outlet in Philadelphia, has experienced over 250 thefts this year. Following the stabbing, Macy’s released a statement underlining their dedication to the safety of their customers and staff and temporarily shut down the store for a police investigation.
Tunnell is facing murder charges and is detained without the possibility of bail. The Philadelphia Police are actively investigating the case.
