PITTSBURGH — Police said a University of Pittsburgh student dressed in a Spider-Man costume attempted to rob an Oakland store early Friday morning but was scared off by a clerk who was armed with a stun gun.
According to investigators, 21-year-old Jonathan Hewson was dressed in a fully masked Spider-Man costume and walked into the Atwood Express and yelled, “How much money you got?”
The clerk told police that he felt threatened and pulled out a stun gun and attempted to shock Hewson. Investigators said Hewson was scared off and ran away only to be arrested a block away less than hour later.
Channel 11 News was there as Hewson was taken to the Allegheny County Jail in handcuffs.
Hewson’s roommate said his friend dresses up like Spider-Man often and doesn’t think his friend was trying to rob the store.
“He was hanging out with a bunch of friends, running around in a Spider-Man costume. It’s just a misunderstanding of somebody robbing a store. I don’t think that would actually happen,” Chris Esposito said. “He’s a Spider-Man enthusiast. He’s a college kid and college kids do strange things.”
Investigators said there is surveillance video of the incident.
Hewson was arraigned on robbery charges late Friday morning. A judge set his bail at $50,000 bond and was ordered to have a mental evaluation.
likes to dress up like spiderman cause he's a kid (21).
