Cops arrest 18-year-old in rape and robbery of couple in SW Philly

Update

Police have arrested an 18-year-old and charged him with robbing a couple and then raping the woman at gunpoint in Southwest Philadelphia.

Police are withholding his name because, they say, he is a suspect in a series of violent crimes.

He was arrested about 11 p.m. Wednesday and charged with a slew of offenses, including rape, robbery and aggravated assault, police said.

The rape victim, who is a school teacher, and her boyfriend were walking home on Springfield Avenue near 47th Street about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday after eating dinner out when two gun-toting teenagers, the youngest about 13, accosted them and demanded their money, police said.

But the older teen, apparently not satisfied even after the couple gave up their valuables, forced them into a dark alley, where he raped the woman and forced her boyfriend to helplessly watch at gunpoint.

The boyfriend told TV reporters overnight that the younger boy tried to dissuade his friend from attacking the woman and fled on foot after it became clear the older teen planned to sexually assault her.

"He was pleading with him right there," the boyfriend said. "He was 10 feet from him. He says, 'come on, we got everything we wanted. Let's go.' "

The boyfriend appealed to the younger boy to do the right thing and help police identify the rapist.

Police have not arrested the younger boy and it is not known if he provided any information.

Capt. John Darby, commander of the Special Victims Unit, said the FBI Joint Violent Crime Task Force took part in the hunt for the attacker.

"If you're going to perpetrate these crimes, the message is you better look over your shoulder," he said. "We will hunt you down and we will arrest you."