Philadelphia police have made an arrest after three businesses were robbed at gunpoint on three consecutive days this month.
The department’s Shooting Investigation Group will hold a press conference to make the announcement at 3:30 p.m. You can watch it live in the player above, pending the conclusion of a special report on a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Three gun robberies in Philadelphia
The series of robberies started on Saturday, November 23. Around 1 p.m., police responded to a robbery at the Exotic Convenience Store on the 6700 block of Castor Avenue. There is a sign at the front of the store that says ‘vape/smoke shop’.
In that incident, a man entered the store, walked to the back and pointed a gun when approached, before forcing an employee to open the register. The man made off with about $500 before leaving in a black SUV. No one was injured in the incident, police said.
The next incident was the only one that resulted in injuries. It happened Sunday around 9 p.m. at the Cloud Nine Smoke Shop in the 2000 block of Cottman Avenue.
According to the police, during this robbery the suspect entered the store with a black and blue firearm and demanded money from the cash register.
The employee then tried to disarm the man, but was shot. Police say the suspect fled with about $400 in what appeared to be a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The third robbery happened Monday at the Castor Smoke and Vape Shop on the 7100 block of Castor Avenue. During that robbery, a bald man with a heavy build wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, a black mask and gloves fled with $600 cash and a cell phone.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
