Camden reports its 54th homicide [misleading headline]

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 1/1/2005 | Troy Graham

[rudy45]

Camden reports its 54th homicide

A store owner shot a robber who held a knife to his wife. The 2004 total was second to the city's 60 killings in '95.

By Troy Graham

Inquirer Staff Writer

Hours before one of the most violent years ever in Camden came to a close yesterday, a store owner shot and killed a knife-wielding assailant, the city's 54th homicide of 2004.

A man walked into Camden City Wireless & Fishing Supply at 27th Street and Westfield Avenue around 12:30 p.m., grabbed the owner's wife, and held a knife to her, saying he intended to rob the store, police said.

The owner, in his 30s, pulled a handgun and told the robber to drop the knife. When the robber refused, the owner fired one shot, striking the assailant in the head, authorities said.

No one else was in the store.

The robber was declared dead at the scene. His name was withheld until police could notify his relatives. He was described as a 32-year-old whose last known address was in Philadelphia.

The identities of the store owner and his wife also were withheld while police investigated. The couple were speaking with detectives last night. Their store was closed.

No charges were filed yesterday. Authorities said that the gun was properly registered, and that the owner was permitted to have it at the store.

Even if no charges are filed, the death is considered a homicide. Included in the 54 in 2004 were four people killed by police officers.

The year was second only to 1995, when the city recorded 60 killings.

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Contact staff writer Troy Graham at 856-779-3893 or tgraham@phillynews.com.

[Tax-chick]

Radios and worms?

[searchandrecovery]

I live right next door to Camden (c-wood, NJ). I'm gonna drive by there tomorrow and report (not today, sorry, there's still some champagne left).

[Tax-chick]

I'll be interested to know! Maybe each of the owners runs a separate section. I remember a piano and knife store in a shopping center near my parents' house, years ago.

[searchandrecovery]

I remember a piano and knife store

Yep. I can recall an auto parts store that had some extra space - the owner put in some clothing racks. Auto parts and clothing. Can't make this stuff up. Went under.

[Tax-chick]

:-). So did "Keyboard and Knife," before I graduated and moved away!

[patriot_wes]

"When the robber refused, the owner fired one shot, striking the assailant in the head, authorities said."

Frontier justice is so effecient.

[searchandrecovery]

So I drove into Camden ("The most dangerous city in America") and went past the store - yep, Wireless & Fishing Supplies it was. There were signs for phone companies like Nextel, and it said Fishing Supplies right on the sign. Kind of located on a main street near other stores, not a terribly run-down part of town (other areas much worse).

Might stop by some day to add a few minutes onto my verizon phone, and get some bait.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks for the scouting mission ... My mind's at rest now :-).

[gwmoore]

Even if no charges are filed, the death is considered a homicide. Included in the 54 in 2004 were four people killed by police officers.

I am not suprised at the inaccuracy of the headline, considering the source, since the Inquirer like all Philly papers, politicians, and conditioned groupthink is totally anti self defense. I happen to live just outside the darn city, and am waiting for Mayor Street (a part of the $95K unpaid gas bill fame from a failed diner deal, as well as part of the Uptown Theater debacle) to begin putting up the "Philadelphia Wall" complete with "Checkpoint Street" etc.

Actually, the correct term would be "Justifiable Homicide", or better yet " Self Defense". I do like the head shot, neat, clean, and final. No trial needed, and one less scumbag on the street. This is the way things should always work out! WELL DONE to the store owner...

Keep the Faith for Freedom

Greg