Family Robbed At Gunpoint In Northeast Philly
.By Ileana Diaz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Police are searching for a man they say robbed a family at gunpoint early Friday morning in Northeast Philadelphia.
The incident happened just after midnight at a home on the 2700 block of Spring House Road.
Police say a couple and their two-year-old daughter were returning home from church, when they were approached in their driveway by a gunman in a ski mask. The gunman then reportedly forced the family into the house and demanded jewelry.
"I ran into the house screaming," 19-year-old Ricky Thompson, the owner of the home, said. "Hopefully seeing my brother or my dad. He followed me into the house. When he followed me into the house, into the kitchen, he pointed the gun, and started saying 'I know your wife and kids are outside. I'll shoot them. I'll harm them. Give me what you got'."
Police say the other family members were home at the time of the robbery, but no one was injured. They believe Thompson's father may have scared the suspect away.
"At the time I was pretty upset, pretty shaken up," Thomspon tells CBS3 Eyewitness News. "I am thanking God I am still alive and my wife and kids are okay."
Thompson says he did comply with the gunman, who took his $6,700 Rolex, then left the scene on foot. It is unknown if the suspect eventually got into a vehicle. Detectives are investigating whether or not the victim's were targeted.
"We identified the location of the church. We'll look to see if there are any cameras at the church due to the possibility this victim was followed home from the church," Philadelphia Police inspector Scott Small says.
The suspect is being described as a man in his late 20's, who was wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing, carrying a semiautomatic handgun.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
