Burglar Killed After Breaking Into Orthodox Jewish Home In Philadelphia

A burglar was shot dead early Monday morning after breaking into the home of an Orthodox Jewish family in Northeast Philadelphia and entering a teenage girl’s bedroom, according to police and local reports.

The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on the 1600 block of Griffith Street in the city’s Rhawnhurst neighborhood. Police said a man in his 40s forced open the front door of the home before going upstairs, where he entered a daughter’s bedroom. A downstairs neighbor later confronted the suspect with a handgun and fatally shot him after he allegedly refused orders to drop an object he was holding.

No one inside the home was physically injured. Philadelphia police are investigating the shooting as a homicide, standard procedure in fatal shootings, and no charges have been announced.

The mother, identified by local media as Evelyn Leiva, said she woke up after hearing noises downstairs and realized someone had broken into the house. Her 14-year-old daughter, Valentina, was asleep when the intruder entered her room.

“I heard her screaming but I thought I was dreaming,” Valentina told local station 6abc.

Leiva said she rushed into the room and struggled to push the intruder away from her daughter as both began screaming for help.

According to police, a resident who lives on the building’s first floor heard the commotion and went upstairs armed with a handgun. Authorities said the neighbor ordered the suspect to drop an object he was holding before firing a single shot into his chest when he allegedly refused.

Local reports described the object differently, with some identifying it as a metal tube or pipe and others calling it a stick.

After the shooting, the suspect was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Leiva said she believes the downstairs neighbor’s intervention saved their lives. “This guy no help me, this guy kill me,” she told 6abc, referring to the intruder.

Investigators were also seen examining a vehicle parked outside the residence that authorities believe may have belonged to the suspect.

Philadelphia police have not publicly identified the burglar and have not announced whether any charges will be filed in connection with the shooting.

While major Philadelphia outlets focused primarily on the break-in and shooting itself, Jewish news outlets reported that the home belonged to an Orthodox Jewish family and described Leiva as a well-known babysitter in the local religious community.