Shoppers returned to the Macy’s in Center City about two days after a security guard was stabbed to death inside the store. Safety was a clear priority for staff, customers and tourists as crowds walked in. NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle has how visitors were feeling.
The Macy's store in Center City Philadelphia reopened Wednesday, two days after police said a man stabbed a security guard to death and injuring another guard inside the popular holiday destination.
The store reopened at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Shoppers had lined up to get inside.
Tyrone Tunnell, 30, was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, retail theft, possession of an instrument of crime and tampering with evidence.
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The incident took place on Monday around 10:45 a.m. at the Macy's on 13th and Market streets. Police said Tunnell was trying to steal hats from the store and was confronted by 27-year-old security guard Eric Harrison and a second guard.
After an altercation with the guards, Tunnell left the store, investigators said. Tunnell then returned to the store about 15 minutes later, according to police. Witnesses said Tunnell was looking for Harrison and the other guard and was yelling threats. He then found Harrison, pulled out a switchblade and stabbed him in the neck, officials said. The second security guard tried to intervene and was stabbed in the face and arm, according to investigators.
Investigators said Tunnell took the shoe of one of the guards, put it on and then fled the scene.
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Harrison was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:19 a.m. The other guard was also taken to the hospital and is in critical but stable condition.
The guards were employed by Macy's and were unarmed, according to Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford.
“Just a tragic situation. Right here, a few weeks before the holiday, these security officers are just doing their job," Stanford said. "They’re here to make sure that people can come to this location and shop in a safe manner. And for something like this to happen on a Monday morning, again, during a holiday season or any time of the year for that, but just another indication that every bit of crime is important in the city."
Tunnell hopped on a Market-Frankford Line train at the 13th Street Station, tossing the knife on the tracks in the process, police said. SEPTA cameras captured Tunnell as he fled and he was arrested shortly after at the Somerset Station on Kensington Avenue in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, according to investigators.
Tunnell told police he returned to the Macy's because he didn't like how the security guards initially handled him but he denied having a knife, law enforcement sources said.
Investigators said one knife was recovered inside the Macy's while a second knife was recovered on the subway tracks.
Tunnell is currently being held in custody without bail. His preliminary hearing will take place within the next two weeks.
Tunnell has an extensive criminal record with numerous convictions and arrests in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks counties since 2013, according to court records. His prior charges and convictions range from retail theft to robbery to drug offenses.
He was most recently released from jail in Montgomery County in September in connection to theft charges at the King of Prussia Mall.
'He was a good young man'
Harrison's mother, Dawn Harrison-Fobbs, and his aunt, Tyree Harrison-Harvey, both spoke with NBC10's Deanna Durante.
Harrison-Harvey described her nephew as a hardworking man who was working two jobs at the time of his murder.
"He literally got off of work at 6 o’clock in the morning. He went straight to Macy’s and opened up the store as a security guard," she said. "He worked there for two years. He was funny. Always had something funny to say out of his mouth. He’s going to be missed. I’m just trying to process this all because he was not in the street. And this happened to him."
Harrison-Fobbs talked about the memories she's now robbed of due to her son's murder.
"Now I'm robbed of grandchildren. Seeing my son walk down the aisle. Just all the memories I will never get from my 27-year-old son, it’s all gone," she said. "And for him to be truly, truly a good kid is something I just don’t understand. Out there working two 40-hour jobs. Not one part time. Two full-time jobs. And this is how he’s taken out. This is not what life is supposed to look like. That’s truly all I have to say. He was my best friend. And now he’s gone.”
Ultimately, both women want justice for their loved one.
"I just hope the young man who did this really, they prosecute him," Harrison-Harvey said. "Because he messed up all our lives. Not just mine, my sister, my whole family, is a lot of us. So we are very, very distraught over this.”
Retail thefts at Center City Macy's
The Center City Macy's has experienced one of the highest levels of retail theft in Philadelphia, according to Stanford.
"Just year to date, they have over 250 reports of retail theft at this location. So it is an ongoing situation," Stanford said. "An ongoing problem. Not just for large chain stores like this but in terms of businesses throughout the city.”
The Macy's store is also one of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia during the holiday season and features a light show with around 100,000 LED lights as well as a massive Christmas tree.
“It’s a huge attraction," Stanford said. "You hear the music playing in the background. It’s very unfortunate to see our city experience this. But again, still encourage people to come to our city. Still encourage people to come and enjoy the city as best as they can."
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The Macy's store remained closed on Tuesday due to the stabbing. A store spokesperson sent a statement to NBC10.
"We are heartbroken about the incident that took place today at Macy's Center City," the spokesperson wrote. "The store will temporarily remain closed as we work with law enforcement on this investigation and defer any further comments about the case to them. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority."
Entering Wednesday, Philadelphia has reported at least 388 homicides so far in 2023, according to police statistics. That's down about 19% from the same date last year but still on pace to be deadlier than many other years dating back to 2007.
