Robbery leaves man wounded, sparks gun battle

A 36-year-old man was critically wounded today after he was shot during a robbery that sparked a gun battle between two bar employees and a trio of masked bandits in Northwest Philadelphia, police said.

The drama unfolded about 1:30 a.m. after the victim left Reuben's Marc Bar at 8201 Stenton Avenue in the Stenton section without paying his bill, police said.

Police said the manager told them he followed the man and was collecting the tab from the patron in the parking lot of a nearby water ice stand when three masked men dressed in dark clothing approached the victim and announced a robbery.

The manager stepped back and watched as two of the robbers rifled the man's pockets and then shot him in the chest and lower body, police said.

The manager then pulled his own gun and, joined by the bar's security guard, traded gunfire with the bandits, police said.

The robbers fled in the three different directions, police said. The bar employees were not hurt.

The wounded man was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was reported in critical condition.

Police said the investigation is continuing.