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 occurred on Monday, December 4, 2023, beginning shortly before 11 a.m.
Tyrone Tunnell, 30, was apprehended for attempting to steal hats from Macy’s. A confrontation ensued with the store’s security team, who managed to retrieve the stolen items and Tunnell left the store.
Tunnell returned to the Macy’s store about 15 minutes later, this time armed with a knife. In the ensuing attack, he stabbed two security guards. Eric Harrison, 27, suffered a fatal neck wound and was pronounced dead at a hospital at 11:19 am. The second victim, Christian Mitchell, 23, received stab wounds to his face and arm and was hospitalized in stable condition.
The suspect fled the scene and boarded a SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) train. He was later apprehended by the police at a nearby train station around noon, after surveillance cameras tracked his movements. Before being caught, Tunnell tried to dispose of the knife on the tracks, an act caught on camera.
The Philadelphia Police Department, under the leadership of Interim Commissioner John Stanford, confirmed that the victims were unarmed Macy’s employees. Stanford remarked on the distressing nature of the event, especially given its occurrence during the holiday season when security staff play a vital role in public safety.
Macy’s, a notable retail store in Philadelphia, has reported over 250 theft incidents this year. In response to the stabbing, Macy’s issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to customer and employee safety and temporarily closed the store for police investigation purposes.
Tunnell has been charged with murder and is being held without bail. The investigation into the stabbing is ongoing, conducted by the Philadelphia Police.
