Lyft driver with concealed carry license opens fire on armed carjackers, sending them to the hospital

A Lyft driver in Philadelphia who is licensed to carry a firearm thwarted an armed carjacking Monday afternoon by shooting and injuring two suspects as they attempted to steal his vehicle.

The rideshare driver, a 38-year-old man, was transporting a female passenger on the 4200 block of Parkside Avenue in West Philadelphia when he was rear-ended twice by a Honda Accord, WTXF-TV reported.

After being hit for the second time, the driver got out of his 2011 Infiniti sedan to confront the two men, who, according to police, were in their twenties. That's when one of the men allegedly exited his vehicle and pointed a gun at the Lyft driver, demanding possession of his vehicle.

The driver was able to remove his passenger from the vehicle before the carjacker entered the driver's seat. But once the suspect was in control of the vehicle, the Lyft driver — reportedly a licensed concealed firearm carrier — pointed his gun at the man and opened fire, striking him in the chest.

According to Fox News, the driver of the getaway vehicle then tried to run him over, but the Lyft driver was able to shoot him in the right side of his ribcage. Both suspects reportedly drove away from the scene in opposite directions but made it only a few blocks.

Philadelphia police apprehended the two suspects shortly after the incident and rushed both to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. At least one of the suspects has been listed as in critical condition. The Lyft driver was not injured during the incident.

WTXF reported that bystanders witnessed the entire incident as it took place since it occurred at a relatively busy intersection and in broad daylight. The outlet noted that the setting of the incident shows just how brazen the suspects were in attempting the carjacking.

Witnesses also reportedly said they saw the suspect who drove off in the Lyft driver's vehicle fall out of the car as it came to a stop just three blocks away from the scene of the crime.

Police reportedly recovered all of the weapons from the scene. The identities of those involved have yet to be released.

Philadelphia has been hit with a slew of violent crimes over the past year, including a record-breaking 562 homicides. Additionally, 14 people have already been shot in the city since the start of the new year.

Lyft driver shoots two suspects attempting to carjack vehicle in Philadelphia, police saywww.youtube.com