Temple University student describes frightening off-campus home invasion
NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Three Temple University students are shaken up but not injured after a frightening home invasion in North Philadelphia.
"At one point the kid had a gun to my head," one of the victims told Action News.
The Temple University senior, who did not want to be identified publicly, called the incident terrifying.
"I don't even feel safe sleeping in my own house," he said.
And now police have released descriptions of the three suspects they are looking for:
Offender #1: B/M, white mask, 5'10 -6'0, late teens, early 20s, medium build, black hoodie, dark pants; armed with a black handgun
Offender #2: B/M, 5'10, medium build, late teens to early 20s, wearing a black mask or he had his hoodie pulled over his face, black hoodie with white paint splashed on the front
Offender #3: B/M, NFI, armed with a knife
The incident happened at 2 a.m. Wednesday in the 1800 block of North Bouvier Street, several blocks from the Temple University campus.
Police say the three suspects, armed with a knife and a gun and wearing masks and black clothing, walked in to the building through the front door, which was not locked.
Once inside, they went to a basement room and accosted a student resident and two friends who were there.
"My door comes flying open," the Temple senior said. "These kids come in screaming, 'Where's the money? Everyone get down!'"
That victim and two friends, all in their early 20s, had returned from a bar about a half hour prior. He thought the front door was locked.
"They had us on the ground, and the one dude had a knife to my back," said the senior. "And at one point they even stood me up, took me to my knees and said, 'Where is the stuff? We know there's stuff in your room!' And I'm like, 'I'm serious, guys, if you want to do something, do it to me. I have nothing in this room to give you. You took what I have.'"
The suspects flipped the room, taking cell phones, electronics, wallets, keys, debit cards, and $880 in cash. Then they fled.
"They told us when they were leaving stay on the ground for 10 minutes or 'We are going to come and shoot you guys,'" said the victim. "And we stayed on the ground, like... when I heard the final door chime I ran and pulled the fire alarm."
Philadelphia firefighters arrived on the scene along with police. None of the students were injured.
An alert was sent out to Temple University students. Many live nearby.
"I woke up to my mom calling me at 6 o'clock this morning, freaking out," said sophomore Rachel Vickalitis. "She thought it was my house."
"You'll hear about them all over the place, and it doesn't feel that close to you," said senior Maddy Scafida, referring to other off-campus robberies. "But this one was a little bit scary."
Police are checking area surveillance video as they work to track down the suspects.
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