A 22-year-old man was killed in a robbery just yards from his family's home in South Philadelphia early Saturday. Police are searching for two suspects after the shooting, which followed an apparent theft of his phone.
William "Billy" Schmidt was walking home after watching an NBA Finals game at a bar with friends when two men confronted him around 1:30 a.m. on the 1900 block of Durfor Street. Surveillance footage showed one suspect taking his phone, after which Schmidt gave chase and was shot in the chest.
His father, Bill Schmidt, expressed shock at the events. "I'm shocked he chased them after they took his phone," he said. "From what we're told, another person came out and shot him."
The Philadelphia Police Department described the suspects as Black males, with one about 5 feet 8 inches tall and the other shorter. One wore a distinctive gray hooded sweatshirt with skulls and crossbones. The department is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
