COLLINGDALE, Pa. (WPVI) — Action News has learned a burglary suspect is believed to be dead after a fire erupted during a standoff with police in Collingdale, Delaware County.
Sources say those suspects were believed to be targeting the home to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of Air Jordan sneakers.
It all began around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the unit block of Rhodes Avenue.
Sources tell Action News that someone was keeping an eye on the home via Ring cameras because the current occupant, a former teacher’s aide, is currently incarcerated. That person saw two masked and armed men breaking into the home.
That person was able to update police live as the suspects ransacked the house, sources say. SWAT teams quickly responded and surrounded the home, leading to a standoff.
Then, around 2 a.m. Wednesday, the house caught fire. Sources say the fire was caused by flash bangs and tear gas being thrown into the home.
One of the suspects is presumed to have died in the fire, while the other is now in custody.
Multiple sources tell Action News that the occupant of the house was Michael Robinson, a former Radnor Middle School teacher’s aide who was arrested for the alleged sex assault of a minor in Texas.
However, the house was known to be empty because Robinson is currently behind bars, having been taken into custody in late February.
Stay with Action News and 6abc.com as this story develops.
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