2nd Suspect Charged In Abington Gunpoint Home Invasion

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA —An 18-year-old Philadelphia man is in custody and charged with multiple crimes in which he held a mother and her son at gunpoint during a home invasion in December, police said.

Jalen Douglas-Smith, 18, of Philadelphia, was charged Wednesday with multiple offenses including robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and assault in the Dec. 2 invasion of a home in the 200 block of Cedar Road in the township's Elkins Park section. He is awaiting arraignment.

The homeowner reported that, while loading items into her car in her driveway, two suspects approached, held her at gunpoint, and announced a robbery at 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 2. The suspects forced her into the home, where she and her adult son were held at gunpoint.

For nearly an hour, they ransacked the home, removing cash, jewelry, electronics, and collectibles. Before fleeing, they tied up the victims and fled in the homeowner’s vehicle.

A short time later, the victims managed to free themselves and call for help. Neither victim was injured, police said.

Detectives discovered that the home was specifically targeted by the suspects due to a personal connection that one suspect, 24-year-old Jonathan Dell of Philadelphia, had to a member of the household.

Dell was taken into custody by Abington Detectives with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service on Dec. 12.

Detectives identified Douglas-Smith as the second suspect and obtained an arrest warrant. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service in Philadelphia and transported to the Abington Police Department on Wednesday.