PHILADELPHIA, PA – A three-day reign of terror across Northeast Philadelphia came to an end this week as Tyree Hatch, 48, admitted guilt in a series of brazen armed robberies. Hatch, also known as “Jamal Morris” and “Omar Reed,” pleaded before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to three counts of robbery impacting interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), three counts of using and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
The indictment, handed down in January, detailed a spree that began on November 23, 2024, when Hatch entered a convenience store on the 6700 block of Castor Avenue. According to court documents and Hatch’s own admission, he engaged an employee (Victim 1) in conversation before abruptly brandishing a firearm, pressing it to the employee’s back, and forcing him to the cash register. Hatch pilfered cash, the employee’s iPhone, and multiple cartons of Newport cigarettes before fleeing in a black Ford Explorer with Pennsylvania tags.
The next day, November 24th, Hatch targeted a smoke shop on the 2000 block of Cottman Avenue. Confronting an employee (Victim 2), he demanded money from the register. When Victim 2, believing the gun to be a fake, attempted to disarm Hatch, the firearm discharged, inflicting a gunshot wound to the employee’s shin. Undeterred, Hatch grabbed cash and escaped in – predictably – the same black Ford Explorer. This wasn’t just robbery; it was escalating recklessness.
The final robbery occurred on November 25th at a smoke and vape shop on the 7100 block of Castor Avenue. Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) officers were dispatched to a robbery in progress and arrived to find Victim 3 reporting the theft of cash, an iPhone, Newport cigarettes, and cigars. Recognizing the pattern from the previous robberies, PPD officers immediately began searching for the black Ford Explorer, locating it parked outside Hatch’s residence. A barricade was established after Hatch entered the home, but he quickly surrendered to authorities.
Hatch now faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 24 years behind bars. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3. This case, a clear example of escalating violence and disregard for human life, was a joint effort between the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Kwambina Coker and Linwood C. Wright Jr. are prosecuting the case, aiming to ensure Hatch pays for his crimes.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches. This isn’t just about stolen goods; it’s about the fear Hatch instilled in the community and the lasting physical and emotional scars left on his victims. The streets of Philadelphia are a little safer now that this predator is off them, but the work of law enforcement is far from over.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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