The 7-Eleven at 5231 Harbison Ave. in Frankford has a history of robbery attempts. Bandits repeatedly have targeted it in recent years.
But early last Thursday, one alleged gunman didn’t make it very far after he tried to rob the 7-Eleven, along with a Pantry 1 Food Mart across the street, police say.
A few blocks away, at Torresdale Avenue and Bridge Street, police shot and critically wounded the suspect after he allegedly pulled a gun on them.
Authorities identified the robber as Roosevelt Toson, 22, of the 5800 block of Crittenden St. in West Oak Lane.
The episode began at about 12:45 a.m. when Toson allegedly entered the 7-Eleven and tried to rob the place, according to Lt. Ray Evers, a Philadelphia police spokesman. An employee called 911.
Before patrol officers arrived at the scene, the suspect ran across Harbison Avenue and into the Pantry 1 at 5240 Torresdale Ave., where he allegedly tried another stick-up.
It is unknown what, if anything, was stolen from the stores. Victims reported no injuries.
As Toson allegedly fled Pantry 1 on foot, an employee from that store flagged down police who were responding to the 7-Eleven. The employee pointed the officers toward Torresdale and Bridge in the direction of the fleeing suspect.
Officers confronted Toson at the intersection. The suspect allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at police. One officer replied with gunfire, which wounded Toson multiple times, including a chest wound, Evers said.
Toson was taken to Aria Health-Torresdale in critical condition. He remained hospitalized on Tuesday afternoon. Criminal charges were pending.
Last August, Philadelphia police distributed surveillance photos of an unknown man wanted for robbing the same 7-Eleven at least three times, in addition to several other Northeast convenience stores, between October 2009 and December 2010.
Toson is not a suspect in the earlier robberies.
In accordance with police department protocol, the officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation and individual evaluations. ••
