One dead in armed carjacking near Penn campus

One man is dead after an armed carjacking near the University of Pennsylvania campus early Sunday morning.

According to officials, a gray Cadillac was carjacked at 50th and Arch Streets, west of the campus, about 3 a.m.

Philadelphia police spotted the carjackers and tried to stop the stolen car, which sped away.

After a short chase, the driver crashed the car into a concrete barrier at 40th and Locust, adjacent to Locust Walk, where several Penn dormitories are located.

The two assailants, who were both armed, fled the scene of the crash, which during the day is typically a busy spot on campus.

When he got to the area behind the city library at 40th and Walnut, one of the men fired his gun at police, who were not hit. The officers returned fire, striking the gunman.

The gunman, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead just after 3 a.m. at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

No one else was injured.

Police arrested the other man at 39th and Walnut.

An e-mail alert was sent to all Penn students at 4 a.m.

In a statement, Maureen Rush, the university's vice president of public safety, said additional security was added to the campus after the incident.

Rush praised the work of police and security officers, and said safety and counseling resources were available to students.

An investigation continues.