Robber in Coma After Narberth Gas Station Worker Fights Back With a Knife, Police Say

One of three people who tried to rob in Narberth Thursday night is in a medically induced coma after the attendant he was pummeling stabbed him with a 12-inch knife, Narberth police said.

Lt. Art Pavoni said the man remains unidentified and in critical but stable condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His alleged cohorts—Brandon Doonan, 18, of Penn Valley and an unidentified Merion Station 17-year-old—face robbery and assault charges.

The attempted robbery happened about 8 p.m. Thursday, shortly after three young men the lone attendant (whom police are not identifying) had seen loitering across the street asked him for a refund from a soda-machine malfunction, Pavoni said.

The attendant handed over a couple quarters, and the three left, returning 5 to 10 minutes later. Doonan stood outside while the juvenile and unidentified adult punched and kicked the attendant, Pavoni said.

Then the attendant grabbed a 12-inch knife from under the counter and stabbed the older robber in the abdomen once, Pavoni said.

"He's got a knife!" the assailants yelled, and they fled the property, Pavoni said. Doonan ran to his home on the 500 block of Woodbine Avenue, and the two unidentified males went in the other direction to a house on the 300 block of Meeting House Lane in Narberth.

Meanwhile, the attendant called 911, and within two minutes, and Lower Merion police found and arrested all three suspects. They were not carrying weapons, and police do not believe they were armed during the robbery attempt, the lieutenant said.

Pavoni said he could not recall such an attack on a Netcost employee.

"Not like that," Pavoni said. "They've had break-ins."

The attendant, who refused medical treatment for his injuries, will not be charged with any crime, Pavoni said.