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A woman in the Frankford area of Philadelphia is lucky to be alive after being hit by a stray bullet while she was in bed sleeping.
The 61-year-old victim, Theresa Williams, was hit in the head by a bullet that was fired from nearly a block away from her home, according to police.
They say that around 2 a.m. Friday, two men were robbing a 28-year-old woman on the 1700 block of Bridge Street when one of the suspect's guns went off while he was pistol-whipping the victim.
Read the original report | More from NBCWashington.com
The bullet traveled to the 5300 block of Charles Street, went through the home's walls and furniture and struck the victim in the head while she slept in her bed, resting for an upcoming surgery, investigators tell NBC10's Jesse Gary.
The woman was rushed to Hahnemann Hospital and treated for a graze wound to the head. She has been released and is recovering at home.
"Fortunately this bullet was slowed down going through the wall and going through the furniture when it finally came to rest, striking her in the head," Philadelphia Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
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The suspects were arrested near Bridge Street. Police say they found evidence from at least four other robberies that occured late Thursday night and Friday morning.
The victim still plans on having a planned surgery on Monday.
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Wow Philly -- no big surprise.
Philly, one giant S-Hole and the armpit of America.
Note to everyone who says, "The one with your name on it will always get you": What you say may be true, but I'm still taking precautions for the ones coming over addressed "To Whom It May Concern."
I recall a case similar to this in North Idaho several years ago in which some drunk idiots messing with a .357-caliber gun pulled the trigger and the bullet went through their apartment wall and into the spine of a 21-year-old woman, Tara LaCelle, sleeping next door, paralyzing her below the waist.
Philadelphia is the most frightening city that I've ever visited.
I'm glad this woman wasn't hurt any more seriously than she was and I hope the woman who was pistol-whipped is okay.
Wow, two armed men accidently fire a gun while pistol whipping a 28 year old woman they were robbing? I won't how she is doing! If Philidelphia had a strong concealed carry program that woman probably would have been able to defend herself. Only thugs and police carry guns there, and you can see how much good the police did in this situation.
Oh dear
Why do you assume that she would want to carry? Why do you assume she could qualify? Why do you assume a woman with a gun would be able to defend herself against robbers with a gun? Troll...
Just because someone makes a more logical argument than you do, does not mean they are a troll skunky-shoes.
Something like this happened a few years ago in Las Vegas, except the person hit while sleeping in bed was a 5 year old little girl and she died. The guy who killed her was trying to kill her uncle for "dissing" him. The killer only got 15 years in prison for stealing the little girl's future. He should have fried. I hope PA law is harsher with the robber who almost killed this lady.
We dont execute people for accidently killing someone. Although 15 years is too little IMO.
What kind of wussies are they growing in PA! Two "men" pistol whipping a woman?! Those wern`t men. Limp di(ked little boys playing with guns.
Just a word to you little wussies, there are plenty of us who see and can smell you coming and we do not fire a warning shot.
Nah, the first inclination you would have is when you heard "this is a STICK UP, STOP" coming from behind you. I know, you would go Rambo on them, for sure, and the first move you made that was provocative would be followed in 1/10th of a second by a bullet in your back. I'm tired of this argument "If they (I) only had a gun...". Most guns in homes get used against the homeowners, much safer to not have one IMO.
You'd prefer the muggers to be more manly? The second part of your post sounds like it belongs in the "famous last words" file.
How do they label it a stray bullet when they knew where it came from? It makes sense to say a stray dog or cat or pot-belly pig, but a bullet? Stupendous reporting!!
Vote to Toke!
In this instance, the word "stray" means the bullet wasn't intentionally fired at the person who was hit.
A stray bullet is the result of an unintentional weapon discharge. In this case, the robber had an unintentional discharge and the bullet ended up a block + away from it's origin.... duh.
Actually you both wrong, the use of the word stray does not describe either and has been misused to describe a bullet with unintended destination.
stray
intr.v. strayed, stray·ing, strays
1.
a. To move away from a group, deviate from the correct course, or go beyond established limits.
b. To become lost.
2. To wander about without a destination or purpose; roam. See Synonyms at wander.
3. To follow a winding course; meander.
4. To deviate from a moral, proper, or right course; err.
5. To become diverted from a subject or train of thought; digress. See Synonyms at swerve.
n.
One that has strayed, especially a domestic animal wandering about.
adj.
1. Straying or having strayed; wandering or lost: stray cats and dogs.
2. Scattered or separate: a few stray crumbs.
@Skunky-shoes That's nice that you know how to use a dictionary, but we are NOT wrong in this instance. The definition of the word in the dictionary has no relevance here. Actually if you think about it, a bullet fired from a gun is "wandering" if it had no target to begin with. See? Easy...
Nogs!
No one perfers that a muggers be more manly. What I was trying in my own "girly" way was to say why do they have to pistol whip a woman? I was forced into a truck in south Texas in 1976, beaten and told what was going to happen to me. The last thing I remembered thinking before jumping out and sliding on wet pavement at 30 miles an hour was not me azzhole! I was chased through a muddy field, as the driver fired at me. He missed, I survived.
Hows that for a last words file.
MRZ DIZ....I would guess the real question is Why do they feel the necessity to pistol whip anyone? Is there some rule that pistol whipping should be left to males only? GEEZE, I am more in favor of not pistol whipping anyone. Oh and while we are at it how about not robbing anyone...but thats just me. I don't think robbery and assault are gender oriented crimes...just as rape and sodomy aren't either. Men can be victims of the same crimes. Are we to assume that the suspects are some how more vicious criminals because a woman was the victim. I don't think so.
Another happy and proud day for GUN-LOVERS everywhere!
yes it is if you don't believe me ask the 12 year old girl whom shot an intruder
One favorable incident compared to the thousands that die each year due to gun violence does not justify the case for gun accessibility.
As retired Police Officer I was first assigned to the West Side of this city. It was a bit of a culture shock to see how some of these people live. I remember that some of the folks would sleep with just a box spring or mattress below the window line because of stray bullets. The outside wall gave them some protection. It was not due to the folks not having the funds to get a normal bed. It was so that they could sleep w/o getting shot. This round must have been a large caliber. I hope the victims of the shooting and robbery are ok. Big Bad men pistol whipping a woman while robbing her. Ah Yes, The City of Brotherly Love....