A Pennsylvania man arguing with his girlfriend outside a 7-Eleven convenience store while allegedly wielding a screwdriver shot and killed a woman who attempted to intervene with a gun, taking it from her and opening fire, according to police.
Surveillance video obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer and local ABC affiliate WPVI shows John Kelly, 45, allegedly gunning down Lauren Jardine with her own firearm, which she was illegally carrying, during a fight over the weapon.
According to Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Jeff Hojnowski, Jardine, 33, was simply walking by when she noticed Kelly holding a screwdriver and arguing with his girlfriend outside a 7-Eleven at 12th and Chestnut Streets in Center City around 5:45 p.m. on Friday.
Jardine intervened, and a verbal altercation ensued, with Jardine allegedly drawing her illegal pistol on Kelly, resulting in a struggle over the firearm, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Inquirer. Kelly, who is charged with murder, allegedly wrestled the gun from Jardine and fired at her several times, including two shots while hovering over her after striking Jardine in the head, according to police.
“At some point, he is able to disarm her from the firearm,” Hojnowski told reporters, according to KYW NewsRadio. “He gets up and stands to her right-hand side; as she tries to get up, you hear another shot. You don’t see any muzzle flash, but you hear another shot and she falls to the ground.”
According to the affidavit, one of the shots occurred as Jardine attempted to grab and hold onto Kelly’s screwdriver, with Kelly telling her to “put it down,” before pulling the trigger. He then allegedly put the gun in a mailbox.
“She was helping someone,” Jardine’s mother, Ada Jardine, told The Inquirer. “She was probably trying to tell him to leave her alone,” she explained, referring to Kelly’s girlfriend.
Jardine was reportedly in Center City for a job fair when detectives discovered her bag full of job applications. Ada Jardine stated that she was attempting to obtain a commercial driver’s license as well as certification to operate forklifts and repair HVAC systems.
Kelly has previously encountered law enforcement, according to arrest records, including charges in April for criminal trespass, making terroristic threats, and harassment. A manager at a 7-Eleven near 12th and Filbert Streets has reported Kelly to police several times, accusing him of harassing employees and customers, as well as theft.
“I know where you live,” Kelly told the manager following one incident, according to police. “I know what station you take the train from,” he allegedly said.
Kelly pleaded guilty to the charges in May and received a nine-month probation sentence, according to The Inquirer. Court records show that he is scheduled to appear in court on September 22 for a preliminary hearing in his most recent case.
