Gunman Robs Escorts After Meeting Them Online: Police

Police are on the hunt for a man who they say threatened and robbed several escorts that he met online.

The most recent victim, a 22-year-old woman who did not want to be identified, told NBC10 that she met the man on Backpage.com. The two then set up a meeting over the weekend at a hotel near Philadelphia International Airport.

When she arrived at their room, the woman says the man pulled out a gun and demanded that she give him her money.

“I still think about it,” she said. “Every time the gun was pointed at my face I thought he was going to shoot me.”

The woman says the man then duct-taped her and robbed her.

“I was very frightened and I was very scared,” she said. “He duct-taped my mouth, my hands and my ankles.  He kept telling me to be quiet or he was going to shoot me.”

Police say the woman was the third escort the suspect targeted in April. The man met all three victims on Backpage.com, according to investigators.

“He’s looking at them as soft targets,” said Philadelphia Police Lieutenant John Walker. “He’s thinking that these girls are by themselves and they’re not going to report it to police.”

Police say the man has stolen at least $2,000 so far.

Detectives suspect that other victims are out there and fear that if the suspect isn’t caught soon, the attacks could turn deadly.

“I really pray that he gets caught,” the woman said. “No one else should have to go through that.”

If you have any information on the suspect’s whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police.
 

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