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Two 13-year-old boys were shot in Southwest Philly while allegedly attempting to steal a car, police said

The shooting occurred shortly before 6:15 p.m. in the alleyway behind the 5900 block of Windsor Avenue, police said.

Two 13-year-old boys were shot after they allegedly attempted to steal a vehicle (on right) by the owner Tuesday evening in Southwest Philadelphia, police said on Feb. 4, 2025.  Two others involved in the attempted theft were apprehended by police.
Two 13-year-old boys were shot after they allegedly attempted to steal a vehicle (on right) by the owner Tuesday evening in Southwest Philadelphia, police said on Feb. 4, 2025. Two others involved in the attempted theft were apprehended by police.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer

Two 13-year-old boys allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle were shot by the car’s owner during a confrontation Tuesday evening in Southwest Philadelphia, police said.

Shortly before 6:15 p.m., the owner was alerted that four juveniles were attempting to break into his Honda sedan parked in an alleyway behind the 5900 block of Belmar Terrace, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The owner told police he went out to confront the group and one of the juveniles pulled out a handgun, Small said. The owner, who has a license to carry a concealed firearm, fired his gun and believed the juvenile also fired.

The two 13-year-old boys, both of whom were shot in the lower body, were found a block away and were transported by police to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where they were listed in stable condition, Small said.

Two other juvenile boys, whose ages were not available, were found about two blocks away and were identified by the car’s owner as being in the group, Small said.

Police recovered the car owner’s gun and found seven spent shell casings in the alleyway next to the Honda, which had damage on the driver’s-side door lock, Small said.

Nearby private security video showed the juveniles appearing to try to break into the car, Small said.

Police were still looking for the gun one of the boys allegedly pointed at the car owner, who was cooperating with police, Small said.