The increase in the numbers of carjackings in Philadelphia is staggering. From 404 in 2020 … to 757 in 2021 … to already more than 90 in the first 13 days of 2022. But legally armed victims are starting to fight back.

Man Shoots Teenage Carjacker

At 7:45 p.m. on January 13, a 60-year-old returned to his home in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. He parked his white Pontiac at the curb, exited his vehicle, and found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

A 16-year-old ne’er-do-well told the man to give him his keys. He planned to steal his car. Big mistake.

The 60-year-old pulled a gun of his own. Yes, he was licensed to carry. A multi-shot gun battle ensued between the criminal and the victim. The punk missed his shots, but the 60-year-old hit his target twice. One bullet hit the punk’s leg, another grazed his chest.

The punk fled, but police officers apprehended him a few blocks away, near Germantown Avenue. An ambulance transported him to Einstein Medical Center. Listed as critical.

Back at the scene, Sharpnack and Cherokee streets, officers found 13 shell casings on the ground and two firearms. They found the victim’s gun on the hood of his Pontiac and the punk’s gun on the ground in front of the Pontiac.

Don’t Fight Back?

Deputy Police Commissioner Ben Naish held a press conference.

He said most carjackings are attempted by minors between 14 and 17. And most are attempted at gunpoint immediately after someone parks their car.

However, sometimes two cars are used, a lead car and a trailing car. The hijackers pinpoint a potential victim, sandwich their vehicle, and then ram the target vehicle from behind to get the driver to stop.

He advised people to not fight back. “It’s a car,” he said. “It’s not worth your life.”

That’s all well and good, Deputy Commish, but some of us may not agree.