Overview
- The killing, which occurred early Saturday, June 6, left 22-year-old William “Billy” Schmidt dead after he confronted two men who had taken his phone near his family’s South Philadelphia home.
- Neighbors’ surveillance footage shows Schmidt asking for his phone, chasing one man as another ran a corner, and a gunshot that struck him in the chest.
- Investigators recovered the discarded phone after Schmidt’s father found it under a parked car and also recovered a single spent shell casing from the scene.
- Philadelphia homicide detectives and prosecutors say the phone may hold DNA or other forensic leads, but no arrests have been announced and police are urging anyone with information or video to call 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip to 215-686-TIPS (8477).
- Family, classmates and neighbors have built a memorial and raised funds for the family as detectives continue to canvass the area, search for more footage and check whether recent phone robberies are connected to the case.