Police arrested two men and a woman who they say are responsible for a recent string of armed robberies that left a popular Philadelphia neighborhood on high alert.
Tuesday night, police arrested 28-year-old Sophorn Ouch and 19-year-old Nicholas Pompeii. A third suspect, 20-year-old Keenan Gentry, was arrested Wednesday night, according to a law enforcement source.
Police say the three suspects targeted pedestrians in the Queen Village and Point Breeze sections of the city in recent weeks.
The most recent attack targeted a woman during daylight hours. On Oct. 22, around 6 a.m., police say two men approached a 41-year-old woman on the 1300 block of S 5th Street -- one had a gun. One of the men can be seen on video grabbing the woman’s bags, containing debit cards, keys and a cell phone, and knocking her to the ground. The suspects then fled with the bag to an awaiting getaway vehicle.
A short time later, police say a third suspect was captured on surveillance video making transactions with the woman’s credit cards. The video then shows the first two suspects placing the purchased items in the same Toyota Camry used in the robberies.
This wasn't the first time the men and woman struck.
On Oct. 17 at 11 p.m., police say a 45-year-old man exited a taxi and was walking on a side street on the 700 block of S 4th Street when he was approached by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The suspects allegedly stole an iPhone, credit cards and $15 in cash. They then fled in a green or gray Toyota Camry and fled the scene.
"It was dramatic and happened very quickly," the victim -- who asked not to be identified -- of the S. 4th Street attack said.
On Oct. 19 at 8:10 a.m., police say a 35-year-old woman was walking on the 700 block of Passyunk Avenue when she was approached by two men, one of whom was armed. The suspects then allegedly took her purse and a cell phone before fleeing east on Fitzwater Street before jumping into the same Toyota Camry from the previous robbery and fleeing the scene.
Investigators say several anonymous tips received during the course of their investigation led them to Pompeii and Ouch. Police say they found Pompeii on the 1700 block of South Chadwick Street and Ouch sitting in front of her home on the 1600 block of South Bancroft Street.
Both Ouch and Pompeii are charged with robbery and other related offenses.
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The third suspect, 20-year-old Keenan Gentry, was arrested Wednesday night on 32nd and Diamond, according to a law enforcement source.
Police have not yet revealed the specific charges against him.
