Philadelphia

Man Shoots the Would-be Robber Who Demanded He Empty His Pockets

A robbery suspect was shot in the wrist after the man he held up at gunpoint pulled out his own gun and opened fire on the man, police said.

The robbery attempt and shooting happened around 12:10 a.m. Thursday along Stenton Avenue near Beachwood Street in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane section.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the 28-year-old robbery victim was talking to a friend when a man walked up, pulled a handgun, and demanded everything from the man's pockets.

The victim, who works as an armed security guard, ran behind a car and pulled his own gun. The would-be robber was looking for the victim, "still pointing his gun at him," a police press release said.

The victim shot at the suspect three times, Small said. The suspect ran away and was found at a nearby McDonald's.

Police later identified the suspect as Osiris Lester, 22, and charged him with robbery, possessing an instrument of crime, assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Lester was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center for treatment, where he remains in stable condition Thursday.

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This story has been updated with new information from police.

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