Temple student shot in robbery attempt off campus

Sunday, November 9, 2014
VIDEO: Temple student shot in robbery attempt off campus
Police say a Temple University student was shot during an attempted robbery outside of an off campus party.

Police say a Temple University student was shot during an attempted robbery outside of an off campus party.

The incident happened around 1:00 a.m. Saturday on the 1500 block of North 17th Street.

Residents on the block say there was a party in an off-campus housing building.

The victim and another male student were on the stoop when a man ran up and said "Give me everything you got."

Police say when the robber lifted his shirt to show a silver handgun in his waistband, the victim charged at him.

The suspect fired a shot, striking the 19-year-old in the upper leg. The victim was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital and was released on Saturday evening.

Freshman Michael Roque lives in the same building.

"My roommate thought there were gunshots and I thought someone fell on a table or there was a fight or something and then it got really quiet and the music stopped," said Roque.

The shooter was described as a black male, 35 to 40 years old, approximately 5'8" tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a red hooded jacket and a red beanie.

Action News has learned an hour and a half before the shooting, police say on the same block a group of men robbed two female Temple students of cash and cell phones.

Investigators are working to figure out if the two incidents are related.

There was extra Temple security on patrol and residents were keeping up their guards after the violent act.

"I'm just really shocked. My bike was robbed from me and I thought that would be the worst it would be on this block because everyone seems pretty friendly," said Breeanin Hansteen, sophomore.

"I'm just going to have to be very aware - shop during the daytime now. If I'm out at nighttime, I'm just going to have to chill at home or if I have to go to work, just make plans to be out early and be home early too," said Roque.

Initially, Temple University said the gunman in the shooting came back to rob students after the students throwing the off campus party wouldn't let him and his friends in however that turned out not to be the case.

The incident remains under investigation.