Senior citizen shot in face, goes home to put away groceries

A Northeast Philadelphia woman who was shot in the face during a daylight robbery was able to walk home and put away groceries before calling police for help.

Police said the woman, 75, was walking in a driveway along the 7100 block of Erdrick Street around 10 a.m. carrying her groceries when an armed robber confronted her, ABC reported.

“She described the [robber] as a Hispanic male in his late 20s/early 30s. [He] asked for her money, grabbed at her, kind of pulled her toward the car. There was a struggle and a shot was fired. She was hit in the face,” Philadelphia Police Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum said to ABC.

The assailant shot her in the cheek then stole her purse containing $400 and a cellphone; he fled in a silver vehicle, NBC stated in a related article.

After being shot, the woman continued walking home, where she put her groceries away then called police, authorities told NBC.

“It’s a good 2 1/2 blocks from here to home. … [She] puts the groceries away and waits for police to come and take her to the hospital,” Rosenbaum said to ABC.

The victim was transported to Aria Health’s Torresdale Hospital, where she was alert and able to speak with detectives, NBC reported.

Police are continuing to investigate as the gunman remains at large, NBC added.

Anyone with information should contact Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153.