Driver of stolen car crashes into West Philadelphia rowhome during police pursuit

A group of carjacking suspects fleeing police officers smashed into a West Philadelphia rowhome Tuesday morning.

The wreck left at least two cars on the sidewalk -- one partially into the front porch of a home -- on the 400 block of Horton Street, near Vine Street, on Sept. 3, 2024.

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The incident began just before 5:15 a.m. at South 67th Street and Woodland Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

Jusu Duray told NBC10 he was returning home from working an overnight shift and driving his 2017 Nissan Sentra when three men approached his vehicle, one on the driver side and the two others on the passenger side.

The suspects, at least one of whom was armed, told Duray to get out of the vehicle and stole his cellphone, investigators said.

"I just do whatever they told me. That's what I did," Duray said. "They pointed a gun at me and said I should leave the car and I left the car."

Duray then used a neighbor's phone to call police. Responding officers spotted the stolen Sentra turning right onto 68th Street from Woodland Avenue before disappearing, police said.

A short time later, an officer spotted a sedan matching the description of the stolen vehicle in the area of Cobbs Creek Parkway and Cedar Avenue -- about 3 miles away -- and began to pursue the car, police investigators said.

The chase continued for another mile or so before it ended on Horton Street, where the car thief struck another car and was wedged between that car and the porch of a vacant home.

"Shortly after the car hits the building, the air bags deployed," Philadelphia Police Capt. Andrew DiSanto said.

An officer saw at least one man running away along an alley, investigators said. It is believed that all three men -- wearing black hoodies and black pants -- ran up the alley.

A backpack containing a gun was found in the alleyway, DiSanto said.

No one was hurt in the incident, but there could be structural damage to the house, police said. While Duray is still recovering emotionally from the terrifying ordeal, he's grateful he wasn't physically harmed.

"That's life," Duray said. "I just have to tell God, 'thank you.' Because my life was the most important one."

No immediate arrests were made. Police asked anyone with information to call Southwest Detectives at 215-686-3183 or call/text the tipline at 215-686-TIPS (8477).