Group sought after violent convenience store robbery in Philadelphia's Olney section
Police say they are known to live in the area and frequent the store.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are searching for a group of people in connection with a violent convenience store robbery in the city's Olney section.
It happened around 3 p.m. back on February 20 inside the Almonte Family Unity corner store along Ruscomb Street.
Police say a woman refused to pay for her food and walked out of the business.
When the store owner confronted her, she allegedly returned with two men, including one suspect who was identified by police as 20-year-old Zahmare Johnson-Lane.
Police say the group started fighting with the store owner. Johnson-Lane allegedly jumped behind the register and stole about $2,000 in cash.
"For individuals to treat them like this, it is very upsetting," said Philadelphia Police Captain John Craig.
Stephanie Michel runs the Olney Community Collaborative, advocating for the Olney neighborhood and local businesses.
"A lot of our business owners they work hard to open up every day. A lot of them are survival businesses, they're doing their best to meet the needs of residents and the community. When they experience something like this, it shakes them up, and it shakes up the whole community," said Stephanie Michel, the executive director of the Olney Community Collaborative.
Action News confirmed another robbery Monday afternoon at Rambo's Market nearby on 5th Street, although police do not believe the two crimes are connected.
Johnson-Lane is about 6'1" tall, weighs about 165 pounds and has brown eyes and hair. Investigators say he previously evaded police in a black Chrysler 300 with Pennsylvania license plate MSV-0959.
The other suspects have not been identified.
Police say they are known to live in the area and frequent the store. If you recognize any of them, you are asked to call the police.
