Teen Arrested for Shooting, String of Robberies in University City

Photo via Philadelphia Police Department

Back in August, a man was shot inside a deli in University City, and now police have arrested a suspect in the case, adding that they’ve connected him to four robberies in the surrounding area.

18-year-old Nigel Brown of the 4100 block of Poplar Street has been arrested for the shooting, which occurred just after midnight on August 9th at the Lancaster Hoagie City at the intersection of 40th Street and Lancaster Avenue.

According to police, Brown pulled a gun on a 22-year-old man inside the deli, a man who happened to be legally armed. The men struggled, and Brown allegedly fired a shot toward the man using the man’s own gun. Fortunately, the bullet didn’t hit anyone, and Brown fled the scene.

Brown was arrested on September 2nd for a robbery that took place at 4601 Market Street, and he has now been charged with the August 9th shooting and the 4601 Market robbery, as well as for robberies at 4500 Market Street and 342 North 42nd Street. Charges include attempted murder, aggravated assault, and robbery as well as firearms offenses.

It’s not Brown’s first arrest. He was picked up in May — two months after his 18th birthday — and charged with theft and receiving stolen property. The latest arrest comes as that case was winding its way through the court system. And if you’re wondering about that big gash on his head, the court record indicates that Brown was involved in an “altercation” at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, where he sits in lieu of bail.