Guilty Verdict Reached In Haverford Armed Robberies

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — A jury found a Montgomery County man guilty of two armed robbery incidents in Haverford township, authorities said Monday.

Sharif Givens, 30, of Norristown, was found guilty after a jury trial on multiple counts of armed robbery and related firearms charges in connection with two incidents in Haverford Township in April 2019.

Shortly after midnight on April 28, 2019, Haverford Police officers were called to Sunoco Gas at 400 E. Township Line Road for an armed robbery.

An employee told police a black male wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt came into the store and pointed a gun at the employee.

The employee was able to exit the store through the rear exit, and immediately called 911. The employee reported that he "thought he was going to die" as he fled from the suspect. It was later determined that the suspect had taken nine Juul starter kits worth about $405.00.

Shortly after the incident at the Sunoco, Haverford officers were called to the 7-Eleven at 2606 Haverford Road for a report of an armed robbery.

The store employee said a black male came up to the register counter pointing a large black handgun at the employee.

The suspect was described as wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and a black mask. The suspect demanded money, cigarettes and Juuls, all of which were placed in a black Nike backpack.

A witness told police the suspect was approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, with light brown skin.

It was later determined that the suspect had taken 20 packs of Newport cigarettes, 40 Juul kits, and $70.00 in cash, totaling approximately $1,410.00.

Police reviewed surveillance video from the Sunoco and saw a black male suspect go into the store brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun and wearing white latex gloves, a black Champion hooded sweatshirt, dark jogger-style sweatpants with a white branding logo on left pant leg.

Further review of surveillance video revealed that on April 27, 2019, 40 minutes before the robbery, a black male later identified as Givens, entered the store wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark jogger-style sweatpants displaying a white branding logo on the left pant leg.

The surveillance video also provided evidence of a distinctive hairline as well as distinctive tattoos on his clavicle, neck and hands.

In comparing still shots from the two Sunoco surveillance videos, investigators were able to determine that the suspect in the Sunoco robbery was the person who entered the store 40 minutes prior to the incident, despite the fact that the suspect had changed his attire.

The surveillance video from the Sunoco was then compared to the surveillance video from the 7- Eleven and investigators determined that the same person committed both robberies.

Photographs of the robbery suspect were then circulated to surrounding county and city police departments.

Officer James Black of the Lower Merion Township Police Department was able to identify the suspect as Givens.

Further confirmation of Givens's identity was developed by a check of Givens's Facebook page, in which his profile picture included pictures of his distinctive tattoos and hairline.

Givens remains at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility pending sentencing. As a previously convicted felon, Givens is facing a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence.