Police: Man Shot, Killed, Wife Critically Injured In Home With Children Inside
By Al Novack, Jim Melwert and Oren Liebermann
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - One man is dead, his wife critically injured after a home invasion in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia, this morning. Police say two children in the home were unharmed, and it was one of those children who called 911 for help.
The home is on Cecil B. Moore Avenue off 33rd Street, just east of Fairmount Park, near Reservoir Drive.
Investigators say it appears this started as a robbery, and they say they don't think the family of four in the home did anything to deserve this.
They say around 3:30 this morning, at least two men forced their way into the home. There was some sort of struggle; shots were fired. They found the 35-year-old father identified as John Paul dead of gunshot wounds just inside the home and his 39-year-old wife, Sherrell Paul, on the second floor critically wounded with eight to 10 gunshot wounds. She was taken to Temple University Hospital where she is in critical but stable condition, according to police.
There were two children in the home at the time of the invasion, around the ages of 13 and 10, and police say it was one of those children who called 911 for help.
Police say they think at least one of the suspects was injured, as they say there's a blood trail coming out of the home. They're checking local hospitals. Police believe there was also a third suspect in a dark colored car outside the home. That car was used as an escape car, according to police.
Police are offering a $20,000 reward for any information on the home invasion and shooting.
