PHILADELPHIA, PA— The East Detective Division of the Philadelphia Police Department is urgently seeking the public’s assistance to identify and locate a suspect involved in multiple armed robberies targeting commercial establishments.
Incident #1: On May 24, 2024, at approximately 8:00 PM, police were called to a restaurant on the 400 block of W. Girard Avenue in the 26th District following a robbery report. A 39-year-old female employee recounted that the male offender leaped over the counter, brandished a firearm, and demanded money. Although he prepared the firearm to fire and pointed it at her, he fled on foot before police arrived without taking anything.
Incident #2: On May 29, 2024, at around 4:55 PM, the same suspect is believed to have struck again, this time on the 2700 block of E. Clearfield Street. Entering a business, he presented an online order to the cashier, then drew a firearm when the employee turned away. He herded three employees and later two customers who entered during the robbery, to the back of the store. He demanded everyone to lie on the ground and instructed an employee to extract money from the register. After patting down and robbing individuals of their phones, an altercation with a customer allowed for an escape and 911 call. The suspect fled with roughly $1000 and an employee’s cellphone, which was later found discarded at the corner of Westmoreland and Webb Streets.
The Philadelphia Police are circulating surveillance images and descriptions of the suspect from both incidents. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the East Detective Division. The department emphasizes the urgency of capturing this armed and dangerous individual to prevent further incidents and ensure community safety.
