August 27, 2024
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
Police said Donnell Bruce, 36, pushed three people to the ground before punching a 22-year-old woman and attempting to steal a bag from a 77-year-old man. He has been charged with aggravated assault, robbery and other related offenses.
A 36-year-old man is in custody and facing several charges after allegedly assaulting five people unprovoked in Center City on Monday morning.
Police said Donnell Bruce pushed three "elderly" people — two women and a man — to the ground around 7:15 a.m. on the 2200 block of Market Street. Authorities did not release ages or names of the three people.
After the initial attack, Bruce continued west on Market Street and punched a 22-year-old woman in the face, knocking her to the ground, according to police.
He then attempted to steal a bag from a 77-year-old man and punched him in the mouth when he resisted, authorities said. Officers responded to the scene, quickly detaining him.
Police said all five people allegedly attacked by Bruce suffered minor injuries, and he has been charged with aggravated assault, robbery, simple assault, resisting arrest and other related offenses.
While there has been an overall downward trend in violent crime in Philadelphia, statistics from Philly Police show 3,583 reported aggravated assaults without a gun in 2024 as of Aug. 25, a more than 7% increase compared with this time last year.
