Exclusive: Man Helps Police Catch SW Philly Armed Robber

 "I'm a little freaked out," said Joe of Delaware County following his role in defusing an armed robbery that ended with a gunman arrested.

FOX29 is not releasing Joe's last name to protect his identity, but he wanted his story told.

Joe said he and a friend walked into a Little Caesars pizza shop in Southwest Philadelphia at Island and Elmwood Streets, only to find they were walking in on an armed robbery in progress. 

He said the gunman pointed his weapon right at his face.

"People on the ground, they looked scared to death," Joe said.

He said they backed out of the store while the suspects left.  Joe said he got in his truck and followed one of the suspects into an ally on nearby Lloyd Street.

He said he had police on the phone the whole time to tell them where the suspect was.

A police officer showed up and cornered the suspect but fired several shots after the officer believed the suspect was going for his weapon.

He was hit three times in the stomach area, buttocks and elbow and is listed in critical but stable condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Police said the second suspect got away with about $500 in cash. 

He's described as a black male in his 20s, wearing a black and white sweater with a gray hood.

Police are looking at surveillance video for more clues and to see if this robbery was connected to another Little Caesars robbery a few days before.

Meanwhile police are calling Joe's actions "very courageous."

The son of a former Philly cop said he was "just doing what anybody else would do."