University City was subject to several violent crimes over winter break, with one murder and four major robberies.
All of the crimes involved victims unaffiliated with the University.
On Dec. 24, Robert Rose, 21, was killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the back and legs on the 3900 block of Market Street, Division of Public Safety officials said.
Police could not give any more identifying information about the victim.
Both Penn Police and Philadelphia Police responded to a radio call regarding the shooting at about 3:10 a.m. They transported Rose to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at about 3:30 a.m.
The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be homicide, DPS officials said.
Philadelphia Police homicide detectives are still investigating the case; they refused to say if there are currently any suspects.
On Jan. 5, at about 5:05 a.m., two men approached another male waiting on the train platform at the SEPTA Regional Rail Station at Convention Avenue and South Street, demanding cash at point-of-knife.
The assailants fled west on South Street on bicycles.
The two suspects are both described as 25 to 30 years old, with dark complexions. The first is described as 6 feet tall, and the second is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall. The latter was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and was armed with a knife, DPS officials said.
In response to the incident, Penn Police and SEPTA Police have deployed additional police and security patrols to the area. Both Penn and University City security guards will be available to students at subway stations and train-station platforms around campus as part of the walking-escort service.
In another unrelated incident on Dec. 27, on the 3300 block of Walnut Street, a male was approached by another male who allegedly displayed a knife and stole $15 from the complainant.
Soon afterward, in the same area, two other complainants were robbed of $105 total by a male who allegedly displayed a knife and demanded money.
Penn Police arrested Edward Gaskins, 23, of West Philadelphia in relation to both robberies after he was identified via CCTV camera by a PennComm emergency dispatcher.
Penn Police arrested him on the 200 block of 34th Street.
Gaskins was positively identified by both victims, and all the money was recovered.
On Dec. 26, at about 9:20 p.m., the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 42nd and Walnut streets was robbed at gunpoint.
A 7-Eleven employee reported that three men entered the store and demanded money from the store. The suspects allegedly fled with an undetermined amount of money, DPS officials said.
Officials added that descriptions of the men were not known because they could not be identified via CCTV camera.
No new leads have developed since the incident occurred, Philadelphia Police said.
Employees at 7-Eleven declined to comment.
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