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Penn State Senior Fatally Shot Near Family Home in South Philadelphia

Neighbors' surveillance footage shows a phone theft and chase that police say points to an attempted robbery as investigators seek the unidentified suspects.

Overview

  • Billy Schmidt, 22, was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. Saturday on the 1900 block of Dufferin Street just steps from his family home.
  • Neighbors supplied video that appears to show a man throwing a cell phone, Schmidt chasing another person, and then a gunman turning and firing.
  • Police are treating the case as an apparent attempted robbery, have not announced any arrests, and are asking the public to help identify the suspects.
  • Schmidt was a Penn State senior planning to graduate in December and his father recovered the victim's phone at the scene and turned it over to investigators.
  • A memorial has formed at the shooting site and neighbors say their cooperation with police, including sharing footage, will be key as detectives review video and follow leads.