Escaped Inmate Murders Northampton Jeweler (with Video)

A jeweler who resided in the Holland section of Northampton was killed in an exchange of gunfire Thursday in Northeast Philadelphia after a botched robbery attempt.

The jewelry store owner William Glatz, 67, who also owns William Glatz Jewelry in Warwick was killed defending his Philadelphia store on Rising Sun Avenue when two men attempted to rob it.

Police report that Glatz was shot in the torso and pronounced dead at the hospital.

One of the robbers who was killed in the shoot-out Kevin Turner, 22, had escaped two weeks ago from a city jail.

Turner is also believed to have robbed a Gold Exchange in the city last week.

Philadelphia police are looking for two other people who were involved in the botched robbery, one a gun man who was caught on security camera fleeing the scene in black car with tinted windows and the other person police are looking for is the driver of the black car.

The Daily News reports that William Glatz Jewelry on Rising Sun Avenue was opened by William Glatz’s father William Glatz Sr. who emigrated here from Germany more than 60 years ago.

William or Bill as friends and family know him ran the Philadelphia store while his wife managed the Warwick store which opened about 10 years ago.

Friends and family often wondered why Glatz kept the Philadelphia store open after the area surrounding it has become a haven for crime. Glatz would respond by telling family and friends he kept the store open because the neighborhood depend on him.

Police are still investigating the robbery, looking for the two suspects and do not believe anything was taken in the robbery.

Below is surveillance video of the the suspect police are looking for:

If you have any information pertaining to the investigating contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3334.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor