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Woman sexually assaulted during home invasion

Police are searching for a third suspect in a violent home invasion in the Fairhill section of North Philadelphia tonight, during which a female victim was sexually assaulted.

When officers responded to a report of three men forcing their way into a home on Wishart Street near Front, at 8:17 p.m., they were told by the victims that the three robbers were escaping through a back entrance.

One officer was able to apprehend a 36-year-old male after a two-block chase, while a second suspect, a 26-year-old male, was apprehended by Highway Patrol officers shortly after, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small. A third suspect remains at-large.

The 36-year-old was carrying a semi-automatic handgun, apparently used in the incident. Both were wearing masks and were later positively identified by the victims. A knife was found in the alley behind the home, and may have been used in the robbery as well.

Small said the men took an unknown amount of money and cellphones from the seven adults in the house at the time of the incident. One of the females was sexually assaulted during the robbery, but it's not clear by which suspect.

A 2-month-old and 2-year-old present in the home during the incident were not harmed, Small said.

Special Victims Unit is investigating the assault and robbery.