Philadelphia Man Who Committed Three Armed Robberies in Three Days Sentenced to More Than 25 Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyree Hatch, aka Jamal Morris and Omar Reed, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 306 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for the armed robberies of three Northeast Philadelphia businesses in November 2024.

The defendant was charged by indictment in January of this year and pleaded guilty in July to three counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

As detailed in court documents and admitted to by the defendant, on November 23, 2024, at approximately 1:12 p.m., Hatch entered a convenience store located on the 6700 block of Castor Avenue, made conversation with an employee (Victim 1), then brandished his firearm. The defendant placed the gun into Victim 1’s back and walked him to the cash register. Hatch then grabbed money, Victim 1’s iPhone, and boxes of Newport cigarettes and fled the scene. Video recovered after the robbery showed the defendant entering a black Ford Explorer with Pennsylvania tags.

On November 24, 2024, at approximately 9 p.m., the defendant entered a smoke shop located on the 2000 block of Cottman Avenue, confronted an employee (Victim 2) and demanded money from the register. During the interaction, Hatch pulled out a firearm, and, believing the gun was fake, Victim 2 tried to disarm him. The gun went off during the struggle and Victim 2 suffered a gunshot wound to the shin. Hatch then fled the store with cash from the register. Video recovered after the robbery showed the defendant driving the same black Ford Explorer as the day prior.

On November 25, 2024, at approximately 3:45 p.m., officers with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) were dispatched to a smoke and vape shop located on the 7100 block of Castor Avenue, in response to a robbery in progress. Upon their arrival, an employee (Victim 3) informed them that the armed robber had taken cash, an iPhone, a carton of Newport cigarettes, and boxes of cigars.

Aware of the previous two robberies, PPD officers surveyed the area for the black Ford Explorer and found it parked outside the defendant’s residence. Hatch was then seen entering the home, and a barricade was declared. The defendant soon exited the residence and was placed under arrest.

This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kwambina Coker and Linwood C. Wright Jr.

Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.