PHILADELPHIA — A man accused of stabbing two security guards who stopped him from stealing merchandise from a department store in Philadelphia — killing one and critically injuring the other — has been charged with murder and several other counts, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Tyrone Tunnell, 30, was being held without bail and a preliminary hearing in his case will be held within two weeks. Prosecutors said they did not know if he has an attorney.
The stabbings occurred around 11 a.m. Monday at a Macy’s store. Police said the security guards — Eric Harrison, 27, of Frankford, and Christian Mitchell, 23 — saw Tunnell attempting to steal some hats and took back the merchandise.
Tunnel then left the store but returned a short time later armed with a knife, authorities said. He confronted Harrison and stabbed him in the neck, and stabbed Mitchell in the face and arm when the guard tried to help Harrison. Both guards were unarmed, authorities said.
Tunnel fled the store after the attack and got on a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority train, tossing the knife on the tracks in the process, prosecutors said. He was spotted by SEPTA cameras during this time and was soon captured at another SEPTA station in the city.
Harrison was taken to a hospital after the attack and was pronounced dead there a short time later. Mitchell underwent surgery for his injuries and remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical but stable condition, prosecutors said.
Tunnel, whose last known address was in Philadelphia, was charged with murder in Harrison's death, and attempted murder and aggravated assault in the stabbing of the other guard. He also faces weapons counts and charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and retail theft.
