Burglar shot dead by S. Phila. resident

A South Philadelphia resident shot and killed a house-burglary suspect late Thursday after a scuffle in the renter's rowhouse in the 1900 block of Montrose Street, police said.

Authorities said the invader, in dark hoodie and jeans, was shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

According to police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore, the resident, whom police refused to identify but who is about 40 years old, went to his bedroom after returning home for the night and noticed a man attempting to hide behind the bedroom door.

The resident, who was legally licensed to carry the handgun, drew it and ordered the man to leave.

The invader, described by authorities as about six feet tall, weighing nearly 200 pounds and in his late 40s, tried to grab the firearm. He was shot during a tussle, Vanore said.

Last night, the dead man remained unidentified by the Medical Examiner's Office, according to Vanore. He said no charges had been filed against the resident.

Next-door neighbor Doris Gunther, 67, said the occupant of the home had been there only about two months. She said she never got to know him after he moved into the quiet and rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.

Gunther said she was in the living room watching television when she heard a commotion next door.

"On the second floor of the house, there was a rumbling, like fighting," said Gunther. She said she did not hear a gunshot. She thought it was odd to hear such noise coming from such a normally quiet neighbor, she said.

"It was the first noise I ever heard over there," she said. "He's usually quiet as a mouse."