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A Pennsport retail store’s employees averted a robbery while a passer-by’s 911 call helped police to nab the alleged offenders.
A 38-year-old male store manager at Marshall’s, 2000 S. Swanson St., opened the front door to allow his first-shift employees to enter at 9:56 a.m. Feb. 24, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. A 57-year-old male employee saw three masked men approach the door, so he informed his 43-year-old male coworker, who quickly closed and locked the door just before one of the offenders attempted to open it.
The trio fled on foot removing their masks as they ran westbound toward Water Street through an alley bordering the southern side of the store, Tolliver said. When a 31-year-old pulled into the parking lot, he saw the suspicious men and called police.
Police spotted the alleged offenders who matched the given descriptions about six blocks away in an alley between the 300 blocks of Wolf and Daly streets, Tolliver said. Police surrounded Khalil McDonald and Jamire Drummond, both 19, of Southwest Philly, while other responding officers demanded Avont Marshall, also 19, of Southwest Philly, to stop. When Marshall, allegedly reached for his waistband, an officer pointed his firearm and demanded Marshall show his hands, Marshall is believed to have retrieved a silver handgun and threw it to the ground. The officer continued to hold Marshall at gunpoint until more backup arrived.
The three teens were arrested and charged with conspiracy, robbery, attempted theft, firearm violations and related offenses, according to court records. None of the men had posted their respective $150,000 bail as of press time.
Police recovered a loaded firearm, a pair of black gloves, a black jacket and two black backpacks containing masks, clothing, flex cuffs and duct tape from a backyard on the 300 block of Daly Street, Tolliver said.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
91238441
