Suspect arrested in Center City jewelry store worker kidnapping

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Authorities say one suspect has been arrested in South Carolina in connection to the kidnapping, beating and robbery of a jewelry store employee in Center City Philadelphia.

ATF says its agents and US Marshals took 31-year-old Khayree Gay into custody at a hotel in South Carolina on Friday night.

This comes nearly a week after a jeweler's row employee was kidnapped, tortured and robbed by three men.

"It was great news because good they got him. It will be more great news when they get all of them," said Jasmeen Wasim, jeweler.

Wasim says business owners and workers have been on edge since the men threw the 53-year-old victim into their van inside a Chestnut Street garage last week.

Police say the men demanded keys to her work place National Watch and Diamond and codes to the safes.

But when she didn't have them, authorities say the robbers viciously beat the woman and even shot her with a Taser 7 times.

According to investigators, after emptying her bank account at several ATMs, the suspects dropped her off at a cemetery in Darby.

She was hospitalized with a concussion, many bruises and cuts, and is deeply traumatized by the crime.

Gay was arrested at the Security Inn in Lake City, Florence County in South Carolina.

ATF agents took Gay, who is from Olney, into custody without incident.

Three men in total were being sought.

No word on the whereabouts of the van in question or the other two suspects.

Officials say Gay is charged with federal kidnapping and related offenses. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

He is being held at the Florence County Detention Center in South Carolina.

Meanwhile, there has been increased security on jeweler's row this week.

"We were making sure we were locked. And when we were leaving out the door, we were looking around if someone was following or thinking a little suspicious. If somebody looked suspicious, there were cops outside," said Wasim.

Anyone with information in this case or the whereabouts of the remaining suspects is urged to contact Philadelphia Police by calling 911.