Images show Temple University student being held at gunpoint during robbery near campus

The suspect was wearing all-black clothing and a black facemask.

6abc Digital Staff Image
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Images show Temple student being held at gunpoint during robbery
Images show Temple University student being held at gunpoint during robbery

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating after two Temple University students and a third person were robbed at gunpoint Tuesday morning.

According to police, the three robberies happened between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

The first incident happened in the 1900 block of N. 16th Street. Police said the student was not physically injured. A cellphone was stolen, but was recovered and returned to the student.

A second incident happened in the area of 1800 N. 16th Street. Police said the student's cellphone and wallet were taken by the suspect.

Marisa Moyle, a junior at Temple, said she was on the way to class when she witnessed one of the robberies.

"I could tell that they had a weapon that was pretty harmful obviously," she said.

Police said both incidents happened off-campus, but were within the university's patrol zone. Temple police detectives are now helping Philadelphia police in the investigation.

"It's kind of frightening. I kind of walk this way everyday, and seeing stuff like that makes me feel a lot less safe about it," said Griffin Trial, a senior.

A third armed robbery happened in the 2000 block of W. Jefferson Street. The incident did not involve a student and the crime happened outside of the Temple patrol zone, police said.

Investigators are now working to identify and find a suspect captured on security cameras. He was wearing all-black clothing and a black facemask.

Anyone with information on the suspect or the crimes is asked to call Temple Police at 215-204-1234.