Exclusive: Victim Speaks Out After Trio Robs Gas Station Using Fire Extinguisher
By Ileana Diaz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia Police are searching for three suspects caught on surveillance video during a gas station robbery early Tuesday morning.
You see three people walk in with a bag - take a fire extinguisher - and hose down the clerk in the cashier box, filling the box up with powder.
The incident happened at about 12:30 a.m. at the BP Gas Station in the 2200 block of West Allegheny Avenue in the city's Tioga section.
WATCH: Courtesy Philadelphia Police Department
"Within few seconds, I cannot see, cannot breathe," clerk Chaudhry Rashid said.
Only CBS 3 caught up with the clerk. He says he was not injured, but was immediately shaken up by it all and didn't see the suspects escape.
"I cannot see after five minutes," he said.
But cameras did catch the suspects and police describe them as two males and one female all 16-to-20 years of age. Detectives say all they took was a few bags of chips and Tasty Cakes.
"it was surprising they came and just took food," clerk Jawad Header said.
The clerks say they have been robbed in the past, but usually the suspects have taken bags full of food.
Suspect #1 is described as a Black male, 16-to-20-years-old, 5'6″ to 5'8″, wearing a black wool hat, white t-shirt, red shorts. This suspect was wearing a backpack on his front which contained the fire extinguisher.
Suspect #2 is described as a Black male, 16-to-20-years-old, 5'9″ to 5'11″, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.
Suspect #3 is described as a Black female, 16-to-20-years-old, 5'7″ to 5'9″, wearing a black shirt and purple shorts.
Police advise if you see these suspects do not approach them, contact 911 immediately.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847 or Northwest Detectives Division at 215-686-3053/3054.
