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 took place on Monday, December 4, 2023, starting just before 11 a.m.
Tyrone Tunnell, 30, was caught attempting to steal hats from the Macy’s store, leading to a clash with security personnel. The security team successfully retrieved the stolen items, prompting the suspect to flee the store.
Approximately 15 minutes following his departure, Tunnell returned, this time armed with a knife, and assaulted two security guards. The first victim, 27-year-old Eric Harrison, sustained a fatal stab wound to his neck and was declared dead at the hospital at 11:19 am. The second guard, Christian Mitchell, 23, suffered facial and arm injuries and is currently hospitalized in stable condition.
After the attack, Tunnell fled and boarded a SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) train. Surveillance cameras on the SEPTA system captured his movements, leading to his arrest around noon at a nearby train station. Before his apprehension, he attempted to discard the murder weapon on the train tracks, a detail captured by surveillance footage.
Philadelphia Police, led by Interim Commissioner John Stanford, confirmed that the security guards were employed by Macy’s and unarmed at the time of the attack. Stanford expressed deep concern about the incident, particularly given its proximity to the holiday season, a critical time for security personnel in maintaining public safety.
The Macy’s store, a prominent retail location in Philadelphia, has been grappling with a significant number of retail theft incidents, with over 250 reported this year. In light of the tragedy, Macy’s issued a statement reiterating their commitment to the safety of their customers and staff. The store was temporarily closed to facilitate the police investigation.
Tunnell is currently facing murder charges and is being detained without bail. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to investigate the details surrounding the stabbing.
