Local News

A robbery suspect was shot and killed while trying to rob a Philadelphia business Thursday morning, police said.

Police said a man in his 20s entered Geppert Recycling in the 4500 block of Wayne Avenue at about 9:30 a.m.

David Geppert, the owner of Geppert recycling, said the suspect called his business in the early morning hours saying he had scrap metal to sell.

When the suspect arrived, he pulled out a gun and demanded money from employees. Two employees removed weapons of their own and shot the suspect.

"He never had any metal to come and sell. That was just his way to get up here. He pulled a gun on my employees and my employees returned fire, and shot and killed him," said Geppert.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the incident as self defense.

Geppert said his business has been robbed at least five times this year. He hopes the tragic incident will send a message to would-be thieves. Geppert also encourages his employees to arm themselves.

"I hope it's set a precedence that we're going to defend ourselves. I don't want this to keep going on, I don't want to have to move out of the city," he said. "It's a bad thing that the gentleman was killed, but I'm glad none of my employees were injured.

Geppert was shot by a former employee who was trying to steal from him in 2005.

Both employees involved in the incident were taken in for questioning.

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