The family of Eric Harrison, a security guard at Macy’s in Philadelphia who was allegedly stabbed to death by a shoplifter, and their attorneys speak to the media on Jan. 9, 2024, about the lawsuit it is planning to file against the store (via WPVI/YouTube). Inset: Eric Harrison (via GoFundMe).
The family of a Macy’s security guard allegedly stabbed to death by a shoplifter in Pennsylvania is planning to sue the department store and the building owners.
Eric Harrison, 27, died Dec. 4 at the Macy’s in downtown Philadelphia. Tyrone Garcell Tunnell, 30, is charged with Harrison’s murder. Security guards busted Tunnell trying to steal hats from the store, but allowed him to leave after they recovered the merchandise, cops say. Tunnell allegedly returned later and stabbed Harrison to death along with another security guard who survived.
Now Harrison’s family is suing Macy’s and the owners of the building that houses the store.
Lawyers Eric G. Zajac and Evan Padilla of the Zajac and Padilla law firm on Monday requested Macy’s produce documents such as any internal investigations, employee handbooks, crime statistics and security assessments, among other items. Padilla told Law&Crime they will file the lawsuit in a month or so after receiving more information.
The lawyers and Harrison’s family held a press conference announcing the lawsuit on Tuesday.
“Safety and security failures gave rise to criminal opportunity,” Zajac said, according to NBC affiliate WCAU. “We were hired, Evan and I, to get some answers to some very important, very good questions and to hold accountable those who share responsibility for those safety and security failures. Failures that contributed to the death of Eric Harrison.”
Harrison’s death has left a painful mark on the family.
“I can’t pick one person who would say anything negative about him,” said Harrison’s father, Eric Coates, according to ABC affiliate WPVI.
People admired Harrison’s work ethic. In addition to his security guard position, he also worked an overnight job at the U.S. Postal Service. He wanted to save money to move into a new apartment.
“He wanted to prove, ‘Hey I got this. I can do this,”” said Coates.
Zajac declined to release the monetary value for the lawsuit but said they plan to seek 40 to 50 years’ worth of wage losses which would be a “very substantial amount of money.”
A spokesperson for Macy’s declined to comment on the pending lawsuit in a statement provided to Law&Crime.
“We remain heartbroken about the tragedy that took place at Macy’s Center City. Our hearts go out to the Harrison family during this difficult time,” the statement said.
The incident began around 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 4 when the suspect Tunnell allegedly tried to steal several hats from the store. Two security guards confronted Tunnell and confiscated the hats and allowed the shoplifter to leave after a confrontation, Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford said at the time.
About 15 minutes later, Tunnell returned to the store armed with a knife, went straight for Harrison and stabbed him in the neck, according to prosecutors. Another security guard, 23, intervened and also was slashed in the face and arm. Paramedics took Harrison to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Tunnell ran away, but SEPTA Transit Police quickly arrested him after tracking his movements through surveillance video, said Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Police recovered the knife used in the murder, according to Krasner. Shoppers identified Tunnell as the man who stabbed the security guards.
“Like the scores of people who visit and shop in Philadelphia during what is for many a joyful time of year, I am shocked and heartbroken by the murder of a department store employee and violent assault of another, all for doing their jobs in support of the safety and peace of co-workers and customers,” Krasner said in a statement after the incident.
Retail theft has been an “ongoing problem” at the Macy’s, with more than 250 reports this year alone, Stanford said. Stanford called the incident a tragedy.
“Right here just a few weeks before the holidays, these security officers are just doing their job,” he told reporters during a news conference after the incident. “They’re here to make sure people can come to this location and shop in a safe manner.”
Court records show Tunnell has been convicted numerous times for shoplifting and drug-related charges. He was on probation for a shoplifting charge at the time of the stabbing, according to records.
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