Jewelry Store Robber Was Escaped Prisoner: Authorities

Jeweler dies after fighting back against robbers.

Police are searching for a man they say exchanged a barrage of gunfire that left a Northeast Philadelphia jewelry store owner and a would-be robber dead.

The attempted robbery happened at William Glatz Jewelers on the 6400 block of Rising Sun Ave. in the Lawndale section of the city around 10:50 a.m. Thursday.

William Glatz had owned and worked the store along with his wife for decades. When the men entered the store, they pointed a gun at Glatz. The 67-year old man and other store employees fought back by returning fire, killing one alleged robber, said police sources.

The suspect is described as a 5'8" black male in his 20s.

According to police, Kevin Turner was the would-be robber who was killed. The 22-year-old escaped from the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on Oct. 12. He was in prison on firearms and a burglary charge.

Glatz took two shots to the chest during the shootout and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The second suspect ran out of the store and fled on foot empty-handed.

It appears that the would-be robbers were casing the store in a suspicious car before making their move to rob the place, police said.

Two other employees were in the store at the time of the shootout but weren't injured.

The Philadelphia Police department have released surveillance video of the robbery.


Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our breaking news newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)

Contact Us