The Express-Times | By Jeff Sistrunk
Palmer Township police are seeking suspects in an armed robbery and assault early this morning in the township that stemmed from a dispute over a Craigslist transaction, according to police.
A handgun accidentally discharged during the reported assault at 1:14 a.m. in the parking lot of the McDonald's restaurant at 25th Street, but no one was struck by gunfire and no buildings were hit, said Palmer Township police Sgt. Timothy Ruoff.
Police described the alleged assailant as a heavyset Latino or black man, between 5 foot 6 inches and 6 foot, with short black hair and wearing baggy black shorts and a grey T-shirt.
Police say the incident was triggered when the assailant met with a man, whom police declined to identify, at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Shammy Shine, 2920 William Penn Highway, to make a transaction arranged through Craigslist. The assailant gave the man undisclosed items in exchange for four car rims that had been advertised through the website, according to Ruoff.
After "becoming dissatisfied with the quality" of the rims, the alleged assailant sought out the seller and found him in a car in the McDonald's parking lot, police said.
The alleged assailant confronted the seller, stole the man's cell phone and then struck another man sitting in the car in the head with a large semi-automatic black handgun, Ruoff said. As a result of the blow, the weapon accidentally discharged and fired a shot through the roof of the car, he said.
The assailant fled in a "shiny, new-looking," silver, four-door Volkswagen Jetta and was last seen travelling north on Route 248 and then turning right onto Lawnherst Avenue, police said.
The driver of the Jetta, who may go by the nickname "GG," was described as a heavyset white woman in her early 20s, with blonde/dirty blonde shoulder-length hair, police said.
Both the assailant and the driver of the Jetta may live in South Side Easton, police said.
Anyone with information on the incident or suspects can call Palmer Township police at 610-253-5844
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