Teen gunned down

Detectives recovered two 7.62-caliber rifle cartridges on the 1800 block of South Fifth Street, where a teen was gunned down Saturday.

The shooter walked up to the 16-year-old Asian male at about 10 p.m. and unloaded two rounds into his right bicep, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detective Division said. The wounded teen went to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in stable condition.

Investigators are not ruling out the possibility the crime was gang related.

The shooter was described as a black male, about 25, 5-foot-8 with a small build and wearing a gray hoodie.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Pair robs woman

With a knife to a 22-year-old’s throat, two teens robbed a woman shortly before 8 p.m. Nov. 21.

The victim was walking on the 800 block of Moore Street when the perpetrators converged, one holding her at knifepoint while the other snatched her black purse that contained $240 and a Mexican passport, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.

Both offenders were described as black males, about age 17 to 19, about 6 foot and 160 to 170 pounds. One sported a light brown hoodie, the other, a dark one.

The teens fled on foot, going south on Eighth Street.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Chase suspect at large

The man who led police on an early-morning chase yesterday from Sixth and Spring Garden streets to the 2200 block of League Street is still on the loose.

The suspect ditched his car on the 2100 block of Latona Street and took off on foot. Prior to this, on League, the suspect backed several times into the police cruiser that was tailing him, Officer Beth Skala of the Police Public Affairs Unit said.

The officer in the vehicle was not injured, but the car was damaged.

The pursuit began at about 2 a.m. when police tried to stop a stolen 1997 Dodge Caravan, Skala said. The driver refused to yield, leading police on the chase.

Investigators did not have a description of the wanted man.

To report information, call Central Detectives at 215-686-3093/94.

Punched and carjacked

A man was beaten and carjacked while stopped at a red light at Vare and Passyunk avenues Friday.

Two men in a black Dodge Intrepid pulled up behind the victim’s black 2004 Acura Integra at about 11:30 p.m., Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.

Exiting the Intrepid’s passenger seat, a man ran up to the 18-year-old Acura driver and began punching him repeatedly in the face. He then dragged the victim out of his vehicle and took off with it, Chiaro said.

The offender was described as black with a beard, age 25 to 30, about 6 foot and wearing a dark sweater.

Police valued the Acura at about $20,000.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Cyclist mugged

Two thugs robbed a 21-year-old at gunpoint while he was pedaling his bike on the 1300 block of Broad Street.

The offenders emerged between two parked cars and blocked the victim’s path, sticking a gun in his face and ordering him to turn over his cash and cell phone, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.

After Sunday’s 12:30 a.m. heist, the duo fled north on Broad on foot — $295 richer and in possession of a Nokia cell phone valued at $250.

Both assailants were described as black males; the gunman was age 18 to 20 with a thin build, about 5-foot-11 and wearing a dark-gray hoodie and blue jeans. His accomplice was age 20 to 21, about 5-foot-6 and wearing a dark-colored, short leather jacket and blue jeans.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Charged with assault

A woman allegedly struck her neighbor in the face with a metal rod during a verbal altercation at about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18 on the 2000 block of Norwood Street.

Investigators do not know the source of the feud that prompted Tyra Jones, 37, of the above address, to hit the 38-year-old woman, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detective Division said.

Jones was charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.

After receiving stitches to close a large laceration above her right eye, the victim was released from Methodist Hospital.

Robert Alston is wanted for allegedly going after his ex-girlfriend with fists, teeth and a shopping cart, police said. Alston, 38, from the 2000 block of Pierce Street, faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and possession of an instrument of crime for the Oct. 8 incident.

At about 1 p.m., after a verbal altercation at the 32-year-old woman’s home, Alston allegedly followed her inside a Laundromat on the 1700 block of Latona Street, where he hit, punched and kicked her, police said.

Alston allegedly dragged the woman outside where he slammed a shopping cart into her and then bit her on the face and shoulder.

A fired Masquerade Costume Superstore employee is wanted for the Oct. 14 gunpoint holdup of three employees as they walked to a nearby bank to make a night drop, police said.

Twenty-year-old Joshua Overton of North Philly and an accomplice, who also is still at large, donned masks in the 12:15 a.m. heist at 1100 S. Columbus Blvd. Two victims recognized Overton’s voice when he ordered them to turn over the money, according to a police report. After the worker carrying the bag containing $2,370.84 threw it to the ground, all three made a run for it. Overton allegedly scooped up the loot and fled on foot with his accomplice.

According to police, Overton was let go from the Halloween shop in September after he brought a firearm to work and showed it to employees.

The suspect faces multiple counts of robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, firearms violations, recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime and simple assault.

To report information on Alston or Overton, call the South Detectives anonymous tipline at 215-685-1635.

Antiviolence groups call for boycott

Mothers United Through Tragedy and Men United for a Better Philadelphia have called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters over a handgun Christmas ornament.

"As an activist whose organization represents families of murder victims, I think it’s appalling they are depicting a gun as a Christmas ornament," Mothers United Director Shirley Boggs said. "How can you equate a gun and violence with Christ? In a city that has seen over 360 murders, it seems clear to me that Urban Outfitters is not concerned nor sympathetic to the families whose lives have been affected by gun violence."

A South Philadelphia native now living in Huntington Park, Boggs founded the organization when her 20-year-old son, Quentell Lemar Boggs, was shot and killed Aug. 13, 1997, at 30th and Berks streets. The following year, Shawn Blaqmon, 21 at the time of the slaying, was convicted of Boggs’ murder and is serving a life sentence.

Mothers United members protested outside the flagship Urban Outfitters location at 1627 Walnut St. 3 p.m. Tuesday, the day after Men United did the same.

"We’ve already seen 1,700 shooting victims [this year] and the homicide rate is approaching 370," Men United Director Mark Harrell told the Review. "Urban Outfitters is a billion-dollar international corporation with its headquarters in Philadelphia. Given the gun violence here, it’s very insensitive of this corporation to have a gun ornament on its shelves and in its catalogue. A company of this size does not need to be profiting on the city’s misery."

The controversial ornament may be purchased for $6 at Urban Outfitters stores across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, or from the company’s Web site. The following description appears online: "Bust a cap in your tree with this super glittery ornament in the shape of a handgun, complete with a satin ribbon for hanging."

Urban Outfitters spokesperson Kiley Baun did not return phone calls for comment.

This is not the first time community leaders have been offended by the retailer and called for a product boycott. In 2003, Urban Outfitters caved to pressure and pulled a version of Monopoly called Ghettopoly, which included cards for "playas" that said, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50."

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For more information about the ornament boycott, call Mothers United Through Tragedy at 215-223-6888 or Men United for a Better Philadelphia at 215-763-1805.