A Philadelphia high school was put on lockdown following an armed robbery Friday.

Police say Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical High School at 3116 Frankford Ave. in the Kensington section of the city was put on lockdown after a student was robbed at gunpoint. 

Shortly after the school's 600 students were dismissed for the day, two students and a masked gunman approached the 17-year-old victim at his third floor locker where they assaulted and robbed him, according to police.

The district knows who the two student attackers are, but are unsure who was wearing the mask.

Investigators are still searching for the suspect who pulled the gun.

"The third individual...was armed with some type of handgun, whether it was a real handgun, a simulated weapon, a pellet gun," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Carl Holmes, "We do not know at this point."

Mastbaum has metal detectors at the building's front doors - the only location where students are permitted to enter, according to school officials.

But officials say students exit through all doors during dismissal, which may have provided the gunman with an opportunity to pass into the building undetected.

The suspects stole a cell phone, portable video game system and other electronics from the victim, according to police.

Authorities are checking school surveillance cameras that may have caught the incident.

Students could be seen leaving the building as the lockdown was lifted around 4:30 p.m.

Two robbers - one with an AK-47 - stormed a Wynnefield convenience store Saturday.

Dramatic surveillance video shows two male suspects clad in black hooded jackets, dark pants and tan leather boots calmly walking along snow-covered sidewalks before entering the 59th Street Mini Market brandishing a gold-colored AK-47 type rifle.

The pair covered their faces with masks and charged into the store located at 2101 N. 59th St. demanding money as one pointed the weapon, which had the stock removed, at the clerk.

The suspects can be seen attacking customers and rifling through their pockets before fleeing the store on foot.

They stole an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes.

Police are asking for anyone with information related to the suspects or this crime to contact the Southwest Detectives Division at 215-686-3353.

Authorities say a Trenton man faces charges after he allegedly used pepper spray inside a New Jersey Transit train at Newark Penn Station.
 
NJ Transit tells The Star-Ledger that five passengers were affected by the substance, but no serious injuries were reported. All five refused medical treatment at the scene.
 
Authorities say Johnny Lee Smith allegedly was playing with a canister of pepper spray aboard Train 7816 and apparently discharged some of its contents around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The incident aboard the Northeast Corridor Line train caused a delay of about 20 minutes before it resumed operations.
 
Smith was charged with heroin possession, disorderly conduct and disrupting transportation. A telephone number for him could not be located, and it's not known if he has retained a lawyer.

Police are searching for a woman who has been missing for nearly two months.

Family and friends have not seen or heard from 41-year-old Deborah Dweh since Nov. 1 when she was last seen getting into a black sedan, according to The Colwyn Police Department.

The mother of four is approximately 5-foot 10-inches and 170 pounds.

Police say the Colwyn Borough woman also goes by the name Deobrah Murphy.

She is known to frequent Philadelphia and Atlantic City, according to authorities.

Police ask anyone with any information regarding her whereabouts to contact the Colwyn Police Department at 484-494-4900. 

A West Philadelphia man is fatally stabbed by a piece of glass Saturday.

Police say the 40-year-old victim was stabbed once in his abdomen with a piece of glass at a home on the 1500 block of North Conestoga Street just before 1 p.m. 

Paramedics transported the man to the Hospital of the University of Pennsyvlania where he was pronounced dead at 1:40 p.m., according to officials.

A 19-year-old female in custody in connection with the crime.

Thousands of people sung in Reading Saturday to help make a terminally ill girl's wish come true.

Delaney "Laney" Brown, who is battling a rare form of leukemia, had one wish this holiday season - to hear Christmas carolers sing.

And some of the over 45,000 followers of the 8-year-old's Facebook page fulfilled her dream. 

While Laney stayed inside, a crowd of an estimated 6,000 people gathered outside her family's home on the 400 block of Chestnut Street in West Reading to sing holiday tunes for about 60 minutes.

During the sing-along, a photo of the girl - her eyes closed and face covered with an oxygen mask- was posted to the Team Laney Facebook page. Alongside the image of Laney with her thumbs-up in appreciation is the message: "I can hear you now!!! Love you!

Y102 radio led carolers in renditions of Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Joy to the World and more songs beginning at 7 p.m.

"We are grateful beyond words...to see the community rally around Laney during her entire struggle and now during this heartbreaking time in our lives," the Brown family said in a statement.

Relay for Life of Western Berks and community officials worked together to organize the Caroling for Laney event. 

In May 2013 Laney was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with monosomy 7 - about 10 children in the U.S. each year receive the same diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society event page.

Organizers asked the public to refrain from bringing any gifts and instead recommends anyone interested in helping support the Brown family can donate to the Team Laney fundraising website.
 

A violent night in the city leaves one man dead and four hurt.

A 25-year-old man died and an 18-year-old woman was wounded in a double shooting around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to police.  The man, who was shot three times in the torso, was pronounced dead at Albert Einstein Medical Center at 7:45 p.m.

Police say the second victim was shot once in the right foot.  Paramedics transported her to Einstein, where she is still being evaluated.

The double shooting happened on the 1300 block of East Johnson Street in East Mount Airy, according to police.

Four more incidents - all separate- left four more hurt.

A 25-year-old man was shot in the lower back on the 6000 block of North Front Street in the city's Olney neighborhood shortly after 6 p.m., according to police.

The victim was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he is listed in stable condition, according to police.

On the 2800 block of West Dauphin Street in North Philly a 15-year-old boy was shot in the buttocks just after 7 p.m., according to officials.

Officers transported the victim to Temple University Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

Police say Around the same time, a 31-year-old man was shot in the stomach near the intersection of 18th and Oxford streets according to officials.

He is listed in critical condition at Hahnemann University Hospital, according to reports.

Police say a fifth shooting occurred on the 1900 block of West Indiana Avenue in North Philly.  Investigators are searching for a male suspect wearing all black clothing who fled the scene in a dark colored suburban. 

No information on the victim is available at this time.

No arrests have been made in any of the incidents.

An alarming trend is emerging among criminals in Philadelphia - assault rifles.

Police are investigating three separate incidents that involved the rapid-fire, military-grade weapons and happened in the same general section of the city.

Dramatic surveillance video of an armed robbery in the Wynnefield neighborhood shows one of the two suspects pointing a gold-colored AK-47 type rifle at employees and customers.

No shots were fired in the terrifying ordeal that took place Dec. 14.

Officials say an assault rifle was used in a double shooting on the 5500 block of Lansdowne Avenue in the Overbrook section of the city that left a 26-year-old man dead and a 24-year-old man wounded.

The rash of crimes involving the assault weapons is making residents fear for their lives.

"It takes it to a whole new level," said Cartwell Wright, who lives nearby.

"There are no names on bullets," he added. ""I'm very afraid, very afraid."

Investigators say a similar weapon was also used in an unsolved murder from September that happened only two blocks away from the double shooting Friday. 

A woman was shot in the head along the 1400 block of North Allison Street and ballistic evidence shows the suspects used an assault rifle.

Police say they are still searching for suspects in all three crimes. 

A man is fighting for his life after he was shot several times in Kensington.

• WATCH: Assault Weapon Used in Deadly Shooting

Police say they received a 911 call on Sunday around 3:30 a.m. for a report of gunshots on the 2900 block of Frankford Avenue. Investigators say the caller heard the shots as well as a man screaming for help.

When police arrived at the scene, they say they found a man in his 20’s lying on the street. Investigators say the man had been shot three times in the abdomen and once in the head.

The man was conscious and talking when he was transported to Temple University Hospital, according to officials. He is currently in critical condition.

No arrests have been made. Police have not yet released information on any suspects.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

Also on NBC10.com:

• Criminals Using High-Powered Guns
• Double Shooting Leaves 1 Dead
• 1 Dead, 5 Hurt After 5 Separate Shootings
   

Police are investigating a home invasion and robbery in West Philadelphia.

• WATCH: 2 Arrested in Home Invasion, Sexual Assault

Police say at least two men broke into a home on the 4900 block of Walnut Street around 12:30 a.m.

Investigators say there were people inside at the time of the incident though none of them were injured. Police also have not yet revealed what the suspects stole before they fled the scene.

Officials continue to conduct interviews. The investigation is ongoing.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.

Also on NBC10.com:

• 2 Suspects Wanted in Home Invasion
• Arrest in Home Invasion, Stabbing
• Home Invaders Sexually Assault Woman: Police

A Delaware man was rescued and then arrested after police say he was involved in a DUI crash.

Police say Robert Blisard, 41, of Clayton was driving a 2003 Dodge Intrepid eastbound on Commons Boulevard near the intersection of Reads Way in New Castle on Friday shortly before 6 p.m.

According to police, Blisard was weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating other motorists. Blisard then allegedly traveled behind a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville driven by Mary Rhodes, 43, of New Castle.

Police say Blisard suddenly approached the Bonneville at a high speed and struck the right rear bumper of the car. The impact caused the Intrepid to travel off the roadway, down a hill and into a pond. The Bonneville traveled a mile down the road before it came to a stop.

Police say two drivers passing by spotted Blisard’s car inside the pond. They then spotted Blisard’s passenger, Joe Moorehead, 23, who had managed to escape. The witnesses say Moorehead began yelling that Blisard was still inside. Moorehead then allegedly began to run away from the scene but was caught a short time later.

One witness called 911 while another went into the pond and swam towards the vehicle where he spotted Blisard. Police say the Good Samaritan then smashed out the back of the rear window of the hammer. Other Good Samaritans as well as a police supervisor and Delaware State Trooper then entered the pond to help with the rescue.

Police say Blisard was able to escape through the driver’s side window and his rescuers helped him out of the water.

As the rescue took place, other officers checked on Rhodes, who had been hurt in the collision.

Blisard, Moorehead and Rhodes were all taken to Christiana Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and then later released. After investigating the incident, police determined that Blisard was driving under the influence. Police also say that both Blisard and Moorehead had a capias for their arrests.

Blisard was arrested and charged with DUI (second offense) and driving with a suspended license. He was arraigned and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institute after failing to post $370 cash bail.

Moorehead was transported to the county headquarters for his outstanding capias. He was arraigned and later released.
 

Extreme weather is impacting millions of holiday travelers across the country. While Philadelphia is only experiencing rain and unseasonably warm temperatures this afternoon, the region is still feeling the effects of bad weather around the country.

Due to the nasty weather impacting other states as well as cloud cover in our area, Philadelphia International Airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica says travelers should call the airport's toll free flight information number at 1-800-PHL-GATE to find out if an incoming flight has been delayed.

There may be some residual delays due to weather as of 6:00 p.m., but there are no reported delays as of this time, according to Lupica.

If you’re traveling to the airport to pick someone up, make sure you contact the airline for the status of the flight, visit the Philly International website.

Also on NBC10.com:

• Huge and Sloppy Storm System Snarls Holiday Travel
• PHOTOS: Extreme Weather
• Record Warmth and Rain
   

Far from the gas tanks, chemical plants and toll booths that have come to define the state in the minds of many, the Pinelands consist of more than a million acres of dense forest, wildlife and wetlands.

A flight over the region would reveal a canopy of lush green foliage as far as the eye can see, in a part of the state sometimes referred to as ``the lungs of New Jersey.'' Endangered or threatened wildlife ranging from tree frogs and salamanders to bobcats, eagles and butterflies call its gnarly pine trees and sandy soil home.

But just outside the Pinelands sits the main power plant for southern New Jersey, one that has long created concern with the high levels of pollution its coal burners cause. The BL England plant recently agreed to switch from coal to natural gas to avoid being ordered to shut down by New Jersey environmental authorities.

And that is the center of one of the biggest jobs-vs.-environment clashes in recent New Jersey history.

A state agency tasked with protecting the Pinelands while managing development in responsible ways will try to balance those needs next month. On Jan. 10, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission will decide whether to approve a 22-mile natural gas pipeline through the woods to the power plant.

Six months of public hearings and contentious meetings have only raised the temperature, pitting conservation of the largest tract of wild space between Virginia and Boston against the desire for jobs and reliable energy for southern New Jersey, including teeming Atlantic City and its casinos. The commission's vote is the last obstacle to the plan by South Jersey Gas, which has already gotten other approvals it needs.

``The public has been talking to us since June, but the public has not heard how the commission feels,'' said Commissioner Paul Galletta, of Hammonton, who owns the largest cultivated blueberry company in the nation. ``You can only beat this thing so much. It's time for us to hash this thing out.''

Environmentalists say they fear the project will open the door to other types of private projects also forbidden in protected forestland. They say it will cause a loss of some habitat, as well as increase runoff and erosion in an area home to an aquifer estimated to hold 17 trillion gallons of some of the nation's purest water. By allowing a plant that now runs part time to run full time, they say, the pipeline will also increase environmental harm.

But supporters want the jobs. And the utility warns there is only one pipeline right now that takes gas to nearly 29,000 homes and businesses, which could be left out in the cold without a second means of getting gas to their homes if the existing pipeline fails.

South Jersey Gas would pay $8 million to a Pinelands land preservation fund to help clear the final hurdle. The deal would, in effect, exempt the pipeline from a ban on new transmission lines in the Pinelands. It needs commission approval because most of the people who would benefit from the project live outside the Pinelands region.

Many opponents say the plan would go beyond what the Pinelands Commission is supposed to do.

``It is not your mission to create jobs,'' Cape May County resident Martha Wright told the commission at a recent hearing.

``Protect the Pinelands,'' urged John Hiros. ``That's your obligation _ nothing else.''

Robert Allen, a teacher at Cumberland County College, said the commission needs to consider the potential impact of a pipeline rupture and fire. He cited a report done for the gas company by a consulting firm showing that a person would need to be standing more than a football field away from the pipe to survive such a fire.

The report counted 158 homes and 32 businesses within 125 feet of the proposed pipeline, including 10 homes and two businesses within 25 feet of it.

The gas company says the pipeline would be rigorously inspected and would meet tough safety and reliability standards. It would go under or next to existing roads through the Pinelands, the company says, minimizing the impact on forest and wetlands.

Many union members strongly support the project as a source of work during trying economic times and say they have built safe, reliable pipes that are still in use decades later.

``What I'm hearing is a lot of fear,'' said Rick Baynton, who works at the power plant. ``I fear losing my job. I fear not being able to live at the Jersey shore with my family any longer. Heat and electric are necessary.''

Will Pauls, president of the South Jersey Building Construction and Trades Council, said the pipeline would provide 1,000 jobs to skilled union workers, whose industry he said is experiencing a 40 percent unemployment rate.

``Everybody should be happy with this: clean natural gas to stop pollution,'' said Mark Hutchinson of the Tea Party group Liberty and Prosperity. ``I'm a human and I have a habitat as well. My habitat needs to be heated. I need electricity to cook food. I need cheap, abundant electricity, hot water, all those things. There is no reason to stay here if a habitat for us isn't maintained."