Homeless Man Walks Through Trash, Shot by Philadelphia Resident: Police – NBC10 Philadelphia

A resident shot and killed an apparently homeless man who was rummaging through his trash in South Philadelphia early Wednesday, police said. And apparently someone made a tourniquet using strings to stop the man’s bleeding before first responders arrived.

The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2024, on the sidewalk of South 18th Street near Carpenter Street, said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police found the 32-year-old shooting victim conscious — bleeding from gunshot wounds to his lower back and leg — and rushed him to the hospital, where he was treated in stable condition, investigators said.

Someone on the block tried to use power tool cords to create a tourniquet for the gunshot wound to the man’s leg before police arrived, Small said.

It appeared the shooting occurred right outside the shooter’s home, Small said. Police found evidence that a shot was fired from inside the home and three additional shots were fired on the sidewalk.

“This shooting was motivated by the 32-year-old shooting victim going through the trash and then the 23-year-old resident of the property confronting the 32-year-old,” Small said. “There was a verbal altercation that led to a physical altercation.”

The shooter remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, Small said. The man’s weapon was confiscated.

Investigators hoped witness and surveillance video would help them in the investigation, Small said.