Home invaders can't find way out of house

A family was able to escape their East Frankford home unharmed Monday night after three armed robbers broke in, but the thugs weren't able - or smart enough - to flee before cops arrived, according to police.

Officers were called to Melrose Street near Duncan about 9:45 p.m. after reports of a person screaming. When they arrived they found a 37-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and their 9-month-old baby standing outside, Lt. Ray Evers, police spokesman, said.

The family told police that the intruders were inside and armed with handguns, Evers said. Police saw the men in the home running toward the rear door, but they were unable to escape because that door had a dead-bolt lock that required a key to open, according to police.

The intruders then broke a side window and threw two guns in the yard before running out the front of the home onto Melrose Street, police said.

Two of the men were able to briefly escape, but when the third tried to leave, officers heard shots. Believing that they were being fired upon, cops fired at the man, hitting him once in the buttocks, Evers said.

That man, later identified as Jamar Lee, 31, of Slocum Street near Lowber Avenue, was taken to Aria Health's Frankford hospital, where he was listed yesterday in stable condition, Evers said.

The two other men, identified by police as William Aloyuise Fenwick, 36, of Walnut Street near Hanson, and Donald Mason, 31, of Tioga Street near H, were apprehended shortly after in a rear yard on Orthodox Street near Tacony, Evers said.

All three were charged with robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and related offenses, police said.