A 50-year-old man, Michael Salerno, was fatally shot during an attempted carjacking in South Philadelphia. Police are searching for three suspects who fled the scene in a red Kia Soul with out-of-state plates.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (2-minute read) — A deadly carjacking unfolded in South Philadelphia, leaving a 50-year-old local handyman, Michael Salerno, dead after being shot by one of the attackers. The incident occurred at the corner of 12th and Porter Streets, just blocks from Salerno’s home. According to the Philadelphia Police Department, three young men, all teenagers, attempted to steal a car that Salerno’s friend had been driving.

The tragedy occurred around 10:45 p.m. as Salerno’s friend, driving a Pontiac sedan, was double-parked on the 1100 block of West Porter Street. As she sat in the car, three suspects approached, forced her out at gunpoint, and demanded the car keys. Salerno, witnessing the confrontation, intervened to try and stop the theft. Unfortunately, one of the suspects fired a shot, striking Salerno. Despite efforts to save him, Salerno succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Authorities described the suspects as three African American males, appearing to be in their early teens. All were dressed in dark clothing. After shooting Salerno, the attackers fled the scene in a red Kia Soul with an out-of-state license plate.

Carjackings are a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate, especially when firearms are involved. While self-defense and protection of loved ones are natural instincts, it is critical to understand the risks and avoid escalating conflicts when possible.

In this case, the woman in the car was away from the car by the time Salerno ran up to them, which makes me believe he was interested in trying to stop the carjacking since the woman was safe. This is where decisions need to be made, such as calling the police and giving them a description of anything you have available, as well as taking photos and video.

Confrontation such as this can have deadly consequences, as we sadly see in this incident.

Safety Tip: Avoid direct confrontation with armed criminals. If faced with a carjacking, prioritize your safety by following instructions and contacting authorities immediately after the incident.