The second teen wanted for allegedly robbing the CVS in Bristol Township’s Croydon section late last month was brought into custody Monday.
Anthony Purnell ,16, of Lansdale, was arraigned on charges of robbery, simple assault, reckless endangerment, possession of an instrument of crime and conspiracy late Monday night. The 16-year-old is being charged as an adult in the case.
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Purnell and DeSean Williams, 15, of Croydon, are accused of planning the armed holdup of the CVS in the 800 block of Bristol Pike in Croydon for several days. Williams stole his mother’s .22-caliber handgun and gave his father’s replica handgun to Purnell prior to the robbery, police said.
The two – both students of North Penn High School in Landsdale – went into the store with the guns, pointed them at workers and demanded cash, police allege. One of the teens went behind the counter, forced an employee to open the cash register and took cash, according to court papers.
Police said in court documents that Williams pointed his handgun at a customer and ordered her to move as they fled the store.
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Investigators interviewed a store employee who recalled the two teens were in the store about two hours before the robbery, court papers say. The employee is reported to have noted one of the teens had a backpack that said “North Penn.”
Store surveillance photos of the two suspects were sent to staff at North Penn High School. There, schools employees were able to identify the two, police said.
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Detectives served a search warrant at the Nancy Drive, Croydon home of Williams’ father following the crime. Police said they recovered the handgun, which was loaded with six bullets, and the clothing worn by the two suspects during the robbery. The blue “North Penn” backpack was also recovered, authorities said.
Home surveillance video from a Nancy Drive neighbor was checked from the night of the robbery. The video allegedly showed to the two suspects leaving Williams’ house and walking toward the CVS shortly before the robbery. Shortly after, the two were spotted walking back to the house, court papers say.
Police said the two split the $300 they obtained during the hold up.
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Williams was arrested in late June and police were alerted to be on the look out for Purnell.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
