Clerk shoots suspect after theft attempt

A man who attempted to rob a grocery store at 45th and Pine streets Monday night was shot by an employee during the attempt and died of his wounds one hour later. His accomplice escaped on foot and is still at large. According to reports by University Police and by Sam's Place owner David Graves, two men entered the store at 11:51 p.m. Monday night. One of the men was reportedly armed with a large butcher knife. One man walked to the front of the counter while the other walked around to its back, and the unarmed man said to the clerk at the counter, "Give it up, Homes." The clerk, Kevin Dales, 28, of West Philadelphia, took out a gun and shot the armed man once in his left shoulder. The gun was Dales' personal property and was registered in his name at the location of Sam's Place. Both of the robbers fled the store immediately. University Police, who said they received a call at the time of the robbery telling them of a possible robbery in progress, dispatched two officers to the scene of the crime. The caller also said that the same two men had been to the store earlier that night, and had broken the glass in the front door of the building. Graves said last night he does not know who made the call to University Police and said he had only dialed 911. On his way to Sam's Place, one officer spotted a male lying face down in a pool of blood on the pavement at 43rd and Pine streets. A large butcher knife lay two feet away. Police said the man was unconscious but breathing, and was taken by Philadelphia Fire Rescue to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania emergency room for treatment. Police ascertained that the man was the same person who had been shot at Sam's Place, and that the knife was the one used in the attempted robbery. The man was pronounced dead at HUP at 12:54 a.m., just over an hour after being shot. Graves last night described the assailant as a black male wearing a dark ski cap and dark clothing. University Police said the man is of medium complexion, between 5'10" and 6' tall and weighing 160 pounds, aged 20-22, and was also wearing a jacket with many pockets. Graves described the dead robber as a 5'5" black male, who also wore dark clothing and a ski mask. Graves said the incident has not affected his business. "Business is brisk, business is fine," he said. He added that the incident "might have a long term effect on people who might want to live in University City." Dales refused to comment on the shooting, but Graves said, "This is a very harrowing experience. [Dales] is shaking. He's just trying to maintain a calm demeanor." "I have every intention of keeping Dales. He's one of the best employees I've ever had," Graves added. Graves concluded that the incident "made me reevaluate my livelihood -- maybe there's an easier way of making a living." Philadelphia Police are investigating the incident, but Dales has not been charged with any crime.