Massachusetts panhandler allegedly robs, assaults, 65-year-old man who gave him money

A panhandler in Massachusetts allegedly showed a man his thanks for a donation by attacking and robbing him.

According to Quincy Police, at approx. 8:30 a.m., Thursday, officers responded to a report of an unarmed robbery at the corner of Grandview Ave and Lincoln Ave. The reporting party stated that he heard screaming outside his home. When he looked out, he observed the suspect punching the victim. The reporting party and his roommate ran outside to assist the victim. When they did, the suspect ran towards Newport Avenue. The suspect was described as a male, 6’2” wearing a black sweatshirt with yellow stripes and black pants.

The 65-year-old male victim suffered a cut above his eye. He stated that he just made a purchase at CVS and was walking in the alley behind the Coffee Break Café towards Standish Avenue. He observed a man in the alley begging for money. The victim gave the male 70 cents and continued on his way towards home. The victim stated that he was suddenly attacked from behind and fell to the ground. He was hit several times. The suspect reached into his pocket and stole $3 and his silver money clip with his initials engraved on it.

Officers immediately began checking the area for the suspect. Officer Reilly entered the CVS and spoke with the manager, who was willing to review camera footage. At approx. 8:15 a.m., the victim is seen in the video making a purchase. Officer Reilly described the suspect to the manager who immediately recognized the individual as someone that was at the store earlier. The manager would go on to report that at approximately 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning, there was a male begging for money by the front entrance of the store. The manager described the male as a black man about 6’2” with gold teeth. The manager asked the male to leave. Surveillance footage from earlier showed this male previously entered the store. The male was wearing a gray puffy jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt with yellow stripes, black pants, a gray fanny pack, and a black baseball cap. It appeared this male matched the description of the suspect in the robbery.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., Officer Cooper, who was still in the area looking for the suspect, observed a tall black male walking along Newport Avenue. Officer Cooper observed the individual was wearing black pants and a dark blue with yellow stripes hoodie with a black brim hat underneath. He had on a gray jacket/sweatshirt with an orange traffic vest and a blue backpack. Officer Cooper observed that the male stopped to speak with a delivery worker in the area. The suspect then continued down Newport Avenue. He and Officer Cooper made eye contact and the suspect continued walking. As Officer Cooper pulled out from Oakland Avenue, the suspect was gone. Officer Cooper spoke with the worker who said that the unidentified male had asked him for money. Officer Cooper alerted other officers of his observations.

At approximately 10:45 a.m., Sergeant Dan Flaherty observed a male fitting the suspect’s description at Beale Street and Old Colony Avenue and detained the male. Officer Cooper arrived on scene and confirmed this was the same male he had observed earlier, but that he was now wearing different clothing.

Jamal Elam, 34, of Braintree, was arrested and transported to the Quincy Police Station where he was booked. He was charged with Unarmed Robbery on a Person over 65 and Receiving Stolen Property (to wit: money clip). Among his property, officers located the silver money clip with the victim’s initials engraved on it. In his possession he also had the gray fanny pack, black sweatpants, and dark blue hooded sweatshirt that were seen on CVS security camera footage. The money clip was photographed and returned to the victim.