In the early hours of Sunday morning, a Philadelphia woman took matters into her own hands when she discovered four suspected burglars in her apartment. The incident occurred at around 1 a.m. on the 4900 block of Germantown Avenue in the Germantown neighborhood, according to local law enforcement.
Upon entering her apartment, the woman was confronted by the unauthorized presence of the four individuals. In the midst of the confrontation, she resorted to self-defense and opened fire, striking two of the suspects. The assailants quickly fled the scene before the arrival of the police.
Responding officers arrived at approximately 1:30 a.m. and found the woman outside her apartment, standing over Jermaine Parker, 48, who had sustained gunshot wounds to his hand and leg. Shortly thereafter, Randy Miller, 45, was located a few blocks away with a gunshot wound to his back. Both suspects were promptly transported to Einstein Medical Center, where they were treated for their injuries before being charged with burglary and related offenses.
While Miller’s condition remains listed as stable but critical, police have commended the woman’s actions as an act of self-defense, resulting in her being cleared of any charges. Authorities are actively searching for the remaining two suspects and are urging the public to come forward with any information related to the incident.
Members of the community have voiced support for the woman’s actions, emphasizing her right to protect herself and her home. Shawanda, a resident of the neighborhood, expressed her agreement, stating, “This is my home, this is my safe haven … so to have somebody in my house when I get there, why not?”
Martin Frazier, the landlord of the apartment building, echoed similar sentiments, remarking that the incident was both “scary” and “terrifying.” Frazier added, “I feel like she had the right to do what she had to do to protect her and her family. I mean, I can’t see anybody doing anything different.”
