Samiyyah Poteat
A senior citizen patron of a Northeast shooting range was wounded critically during an armed robbery in which a couple allegedly stole seven guns from the victim and his friend.
A woman suspect surrendered to police on Friday night, but her male accomplice remains at large. Police identified the woman as Samiyyah Poteat, 21, of the 4600 block of Walnut St. Authorities have not released the identity of the man robber. Meanwhile, a 68-year-old victim is recovering from surgery to treat a gunshot wound of the upper leg. He was listed in critical but stable condition at Aria Health-Torresdale on Monday.
The violence occurred at about 8:38 p.m. Thursday outside the Delaware Valley Sports Center, 101 Geiger Road, in Bustleton. The business is an indoor shooting range and pro shop. A man and a woman allegedly approached two older men in the parking lot with guns drawn and announced a holdup. The victims surrendered their wallets, cell phones, cash and seven guns, police said. Although the victims complied with the demands, one of the suspects opened fire anyway, wounding the 68-year-old in the groin. The robbers fled in a dark sedan with tinted windows. The other victim was uninjured.
Police believe that the same crooks are responsible for a similar robbery outside of Yury’s Gun Range, 544 N. Percy St., near Spring Garden Street, last Wednesday. Police have released surveillance video of the earlier crime, which showed the woman suspect in plain view inside the business, as well as an exterior view with the man suspect and their car. No shots were fired in that incident, but two handguns were stolen from the victim.
Poteat was charged with two counts each of aggravated assault, robbery, theft and related offenses.
Visit the Philadelphia Police channel on YouTube.com to view the Percy Street video. Call 215–686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP to report information about the robberies. ••
