Joshua Garner
A Holmesburg merchant snatched a gun from a robber on Monday morning, but then the crook pulled a knife and stabbed the We Buy Gold shopkeeper, Philadelphia police say.
The merchant survived several wounds of the face, although he was injured seriously in the violent struggle, during which the combatants smashed through the front window of the business at 8034 Frankford Ave., wrecking a giant neon “Cash for Gold” sign.
Police captured the alleged robber hours later.
The crime occurred at about 11:14 a.m. According to Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum of Northeast Detectives, the robber showed up at the store about 45 minutes earlier to ask about selling a ring. He told the merchant that he would have to leave to retrieve the ring, but that he would return.
Sure enough, the suspect returned to the shop and spoke to the merchant briefly before pulling a pink and black gun on him. The weapon was actually a replica firearm, Rosenbaum said. Nonetheless, the merchant wrested the would-be gun from the intruder, who also had a knife that he used to stab the merchant repeatedly.
The robber grabbed $1,000 cash from the business and ran. Paramedics arrived and took the victim to Aria Health-Torresdale in stable condition. Authorities did not disclose his name.
According to police, the victim recognized the robber from the neighborhood. Detectives later determined the suspect’s full name and identified him as Joshua Garner, 23, of the 4200 block of Foster St. Investigators found Garner on the 2600 block of Holme Ave. in the area of Nazareth Hospital and arrested him at about 4:15 p.m., police said. He was charged with robbery, aggravated assault and related offenses. ••
Scene of the crime: A Holmesburg merchant and robber smashed through the front window of We Buy Gold on Frankford Avenue on Monday morning. The victim survived several stab wounds to the face. WILLIAM KENNY / TIMES PHOTO
