Armed suspects reported near Penn's campus

This article was published August 30, 2011 at 12:03 a.m.

The University of Sciences in Philadelphia issued three alerts to its students between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Monday night regarding an armed assault and a possible armed robbery.

According to Southwest Philadelphia Detective Lieutenant John Walker, three black men, all armed, knocked on a door near 43rd and Walnut streets and asked a resident to speak to a specific male. However, when the suspects were told the man was not there, “they rushed through the door and hit him with a handgun,” Walker said. Another roommate came to assist and was able to push the suspects outside. The three men then ran away to an as of yet undetermined location.

The motives for visiting the residence are not known, Walker said, adding that all three suspects were bearded and in their 20s.

An alert issued by USP to its students at about 10:30 p.m., which stated that PennComm reported a robbery in progress at 4322 Walnut St., described an aggravated assault involving three black males. A second alert, issued at about 11:15 p.m., described a suspect who is bearded, 6’5” and wearing a long sleeved black shirt. A second suspect was described as bearded, bald and wearing a blue shirt and black jeans. The third suspect was described only as “short.” A third alert, issued around 1:30 a.m., said police were investigating and asked students to take precautions, avoid the area and report suspicious persons.

A third alert, issued around 1:30 a.m., said police were investigating an armed robbery in the 40th Street and Woodland Avenue area and asked students to take precautions, avoid the area and report suspicious persons.

It is unlikely the suspects involved in the assault at 43rd and Walnut are the same as those involved with the incident at 40th and Woodland, said Southwest Philadelphia Detective Fred Mole.

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