Philadelphia police are searching for a man accused of stomping on a 54-year-old woman’s head until she was knocked unconscious during a robbery in the Point Breeze neighborhood. Police identified Lance Ryan, 25, as the suspect who could be seen following the woman and her son out of a small grocery store before committing the viscous assault and robbery, all of which was captured on surveillance footage. Ryan was previously convicted of a violent, University City robbery on a graduate student that left the victim with a fractured skull. He ultimately agreed to a generous plea deal with Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner’s office in that case.
Ryan allegedly entered the Point Breeze store around 8:30 p.m. on November 7 and began stalking the woman and her son, authorities said. Once the two left the building, the suspect ran up behind them and proceeded to throw the woman to the sidewalk.
He then proceeded to punch and then stomp on her head until the 54-year-old woman was unconscious. She was then robbed of her belongings before the suspect fled.
2/3 LOOK: Before he went outside with disguise on. Here is the man Inside the Morris Market, before he followed women outside. Stomped petite woman into unconscious. He punched other woman in head & repeatedly kneed her in the face and body after she went down. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/ztxil8IhIL
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) November 17, 2022
On November 20, police formally named Lance Ryan, 20, as the suspect and urged the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his capture.
In November 2017, Ryan, then 20, was arrested and later convicted in connection with a series of violent robberies. In the most serious instance, a 26-year-old graduate student was left with a fractured skull after Ryan and one other man hit him over the head with a brick during a robbery.
Another victim was walking home from his bartending job when he was attacked and struck multiple times with a brick.
Lance Ryan was ultimately convicted in connection with two violent robberies, including the University City assault, but “negotiated” a plea deal with Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s office for a short prison stint.
He’s been arrested for agg assault/robbery previously in 2017 and “prosecuted” under @DA_LarryKrasner who NEGOTIATED a guilty plea of 1.5-3yrs for TWO aa/robberies. I hope the new victims know this fact.
— StinkyFeat (@FeatStinky) November 21, 2022
