Off-duty sheriff’s officer shot a teen in Southwest Philly, police say

Philadelphia police crime scene unit gathers evidence at shooting by off-duty sheriff at 7300 block of Bunting Place, early Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. An off-duty Philadelphia sheriff's deputy and a family member shot a teen, allegedly trying to steal their car.

An off-duty sheriff’s officer shot a 17-year-old in Southwest Philadelphia early Tuesday morning.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters the off-duty officer saw the teenager, who has not been identified, breaking into his private vehicle around 3:32 a.m. on the 7300 block of Bunting Place.

“For reasons unknown at this time,” the officer, and a member of the officer’s family, fired their guns at the teen inside the car, Small told reporters.

Philadelphia police crime scene unit gathers evidence at shooting by off-duty sheriff at 7300 block of Bunting Place, early Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. An off-duty Philadelphia sheriff’s deputy and a family member shot a teen, allegedly trying to steal their car, a Honda Accord.

Four shots total were fired, according to Small, before the teen fled the scene.

Around 20 minutes later, a teenager was transported by a private vehicle to Presbyterian Medical Center, where the officer involved in the shooting identified the wounded teen. The teenager was placed in stable condition.

Map of where an off-duty sheriff’s officer shot a 17-year-old in Southwest Philadelphia on Feb. 10.

Small noted that the teen was in possession of commonly used car theft tools, like a screwdriver, extra key fob, and other items. He told reporters at the scene that investigators found four spent shell casings and newly broken locks on the car’s doors.

The teenager was placed in custody at the hospital with charges pending.

The off-duty sheriff’s officer and their family member are uninjured and cooperating with the investigation. The family member involved in the incident had a license to carry the firearm used in the shooting, Small said.

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