Ex-Inmate Chased Onto Prison Complex, Is Shot and Killed



by Alex Lloyd Gross

A confluence of events and incompetence cost a male his life early today, March 18, 2021 at the Philadelphia Prison Complex.  On March 11, 2021  Rodney Hargrove was arrested for theft charges and sent to the Curran From hold Correctional Facility on State Road in Philadelphia.  He made bail and was released at 1:10 AM.  When a prisoner is released, they are escorted to a bus stop across the street as was the case with Hargrove, authorities said.

About an hour later, as Hargrove was waiting for his family to pick him up,  a car started to chase him . Fearing for his safety, Hargrove then ran back onto the prison complex, past a guard shack that appeared to be  unmanned at the time.  That shack controls a traffic arm that raises or lowers to allow vehicles to enter the prison complex.  With no one there, the arm was raised, which allowed the car to drive onto the prison complex.. This is being investigated by the department of corrections.

Hargrove was shot multiple times, on the property, near a storage shed, authorities said.  Most of the shell casings were close to Hargrove, which is indicative of the fact that he was shot at close range.  Police are looking for a dark colored sedan.  Security cameras are being reviewed on the complex.  There are no cameras near the SEPTA stop, but there could be cameras at a police supply and gun shop across the street.