Jeffrey Chandler
Police this week named a suspect in a June 12 robbery and shooting in Bustleton, and by Tuesday, June 24, they had him in custody.
Detectives believe Jeffery Chandler, 29, is one of two people involved in an incident outside the Delaware Valley Sports Center gun shop and shooting range at 101 Geiger Road as well as a similar robbery on North Percy Street on the previous day.
According to Philadelphia police, the FBI Fugitive Task Force followed a lead that Chandler was in New Jersey. They arrested him without incident in Threadleaf Terrace in Burlington Township at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. He is charged with robbery, aggravated assault and related offenses.
Police already had Chandler’s alleged accomplice in custody.
The Bustleton robbery occurred at about 8:38 p.m. 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 robbers opened fire anyway, wounding the 68-year-old. The robbers fled in a dark sedan with tinted windows. The other victim was uninjured.
Police believe Chandler, who lives on the 4900 block of Walnut Street, and his accomplice also are responsible for a similar robbery outside of Yury’s Gun Range, 544 N. Percy St., near Spring Garden Street, on June 11. Police have released surveillance video of the earlier crime, which showed the woman robber 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.
Chandler’s alleged accomplice, Samiyyah Poteat, 21, of the 4600 block of Walnut Street, surrendered to police on June 13. Poteat was charged with two counts each of aggravated assault, robbery, theft and related offenses.
The 68-year-old victim of the Bustleton robbery is recovering from surgery to treat a gunshot wound of the upper leg. ••
