Manhunt Underway After Penn State Student Killed In Late-Night Attack Following NBA Finals
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Police are investigating the death of Penn State student Billy Schmidt following a fatal shooting incident in Philadelphia over the weekend.
Schmidt, a Philly resident and Eagles fan, was killed during a robbery during the wee hours of Saturday morning. He was returning home after watching the NBA Finals at a bar.
The authorities are trying to piece together evidence and identify two suspects from surveillance footage.
The 22-year-old was confronting two individuals who had robbed him of his phone right before he was shot. One of them was shown throwing the phone away before the other turned around and shot him.
The incident took place around 1:30 AM near 20th and Durfor streets in South Philadelphia.
Local police rushed the student to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center around 17 minutes after the shooting. He was unfortunately pronounced dead.
Schmidt was studying communications at Penn State and was due to graduate in December.
The university told ABC News, “We are heartbroken over the tragic death of William Schmidt.”
Billy’s father described him as “a really good kid.”
He found his son’s phone under a car after the shooting and has since handed it over to the authorities.
Philadelphia Neighborhood Rocked And Upset By Billy Schmidt’s Senseless Murder
Residents near the crime scene furnished Philadelphia police with surveillance video.
One of the clips shows two young men approaching the victim, who is off camera.
Another shows Billy following the suspect into an intersection and saying, “Give me back my phone” before the sound of a gunshot.
News outlets muted the audio in their broadcasts.
“Over a phone. It’s abhorrent. It’s just unbelievable that someone would kill someone over a phone,” one neighbor said, per the Northeast Times.
Local residents remember Schmidt fondly. “My kid played with him when they were little. We would all hang out.”
Billy’s father has admitted to being angry over his son’s killing, which is understandable, and is keen on seeing the perpetrators locked up.
The Philadelphia Police Department is asking anyone with information to call 215-686-TIPS (8477).
