An alarming trend is emerging among criminals in Philadelphia - assault rifles.
Police are investigating three separate incidents that involved the rapid-fire, military-grade weapons and happened in the same general section of the city.
Dramatic surveillance video of an armed robbery in the Wynnefield neighborhood shows one of the two suspects pointing a gold-colored AK-47 type rifle at employees and customers.
No shots were fired in the terrifying ordeal that took place Dec. 14.
Officials say an assault rifle was used in a double shooting on the 5500 block of Lansdowne Avenue in the Overbrook section of the city that left a 26-year-old man dead and a 24-year-old man wounded.
The rash of crimes involving the assault weapons is making residents fear for their lives.
"It takes it to a whole new level," said Cartwell Wright, who lives nearby.
"There are no names on bullets," he added. ""I'm very afraid, very afraid."
Investigators say a similar weapon was also used in an unsolved murder from September that happened only two blocks away from the double shooting Friday.
A woman was shot in the head along the 1400 block of North Allison Street and ballistic evidence shows the suspects used an assault rifle.
Police say they are still searching for suspects in all three crimes.
