Pedestrian Robbed At Gunpoint In Palo Alto: Police

PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto police are investigating the armed robbery of a pedestrian early Tuesday morning on a city street. The victim, a 40-year-old man, told police he was walking eastbound in the 1600 block of University Avenue at about 5 a.m. when two men riding bicycles approached him from behind, Palo Alto Police Department Spokeswoman Janine De la Vega said in news release.

"One of the suspects drew what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband area and demanded money," De la Vega said. "The victim threw the money he had in his pocket on the ground."

When a car drove by it possibly spooked the suspects because they took off on their bicycles, the victim told police.

The victim did not have a cellphone with him so he walked to the 500 block of Crescent Avenue and knocked on the front door of a home and asked if they could call police for him, De la Vega said.

The victim was not injured in the robbery.

The suspects headed eastbound on University and remained at large as of Thursday.

The first suspect who was believed to be armed was described by the victim as a black man around 20 years old, 6 foot 1 and 190 pounds. He has a gap in between his two front teeth and was wearing a dark green beanie and a black hooded sweatshirt.

The second suspect was described as a light-skinned, possibly Hispanic man in his mid-20s, around 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build. He had a black goatee and dark shoulder length straight hair. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans.

De la Vega said detectives were continuing their investigation of the incident.

"It is possible the victim may be able to work with a police artist to produces sketches of the suspects," she said. "If that occurs, we will release the sketches as soon as possible."

If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to call PAPD's 24-hour dispatch center at
650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through PAPD's mobile app downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.