Third suspect sought in Temple University home invasion robbery
Police have identified a third suspect in last week’s violent home invasion robbery of four female Temple University students.
Elijah Washington, 24, allegedly plotted with Malcolm Murry, 18, and Tyree Johnson, 19, to follow a 21-year-old student from the SEPTA Broad Street Line subway’s Cecil B. Moore Station to her apartment and rob the woman and her three roommates.
Murray and Johnson were arrested last week and are being held on $800,000 bail.
Police are still looking for Washington. Investigators said he may be near the Wilson Park Housing Development at 25th and Jackson streets or in the area of 52nd and Pentridge streets in Southwest Philadelphia.
Police said one of the three suspects in the March 4 robbery pressed a gun to the woman’s head as she opened her front door and ordered her inside. A second man allegedly duct taped her mouth shut.
One suspect held the woman against her kitchen counter until she provided him with her debit card and PIN number, according to police.
Authorities said the other two men went upstairs to the bedroom area, where they allegedly ordered the student’s three roommates to the floor and demanded their phones, cash and debit cards.
They then gathered the roommates into the front bedroom, bound them with duct tape and told them they’d kill them if they moved, according to police. The men fled and the woman who was held captive in the kitchen ran upstairs and cut her roommates free.
Anyone who has information regarding Washington’s whereabouts is asked to call 911, contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093 or to submit an anonymous tip by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8477), texting PPD TIP (773847), emailing tips@phillypolice.com or by filling out this online form.
