Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State senior, was fatally shot early Saturday just a few steps from his family’s South Philadelphia rowhome, according to police and relatives. The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. as Schmidt was walking back from watching the NBA Finals with friends, neighbors said. A small street-side memorial of candles and flowers now marks the spot while investigators comb through surveillance footage and urge the public to come forward.
Video shows tense moments over a cellphone before gunfire
Several porch and doorbell cameras captured the minutes before the killing, including one clip that shows two men talking with Schmidt near 20th and Durfor streets. A person appears to toss a cellphone, and Schmidt is seen following them into the street just seconds before the shooting, according to NBC10. The station reports that the video records Schmidt saying, “Give me back my phone,” immediately before a gunshot is heard. Detectives have collected the footage and are using it to try to identify the suspects.
Family and neighbors reeling as they turn over evidence
Schmidt’s father, Bill Schmidt, told reporters his son “was a really good person” and said he found his son’s phone under a nearby car, then handed it to police, as reported by 6abc. Neighbors, stunned by the violence on their usually quiet block, have placed flowers and candles across the street from the family’s home. One resident said the community is working together to collect additional surveillance clips and witness accounts for detectives.
Police: no arrests yet as robbery probed as possible motive
Philadelphia police have not announced any arrests and are asking anyone with information or video to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or the department tipline, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Investigators told reporters the incident “appears to be an attempted robbery,” though they have not formally confirmed a motive, ABC11 noted. Detectives are still canvassing the block and reviewing video from multiple cameras as they chase down leads.
Penn State says campus community is ‘heartbroken’
Penn State said in a statement that the university was “heartbroken” to learn of William Schmidt’s death and that Student Affairs is reaching out to his family to offer support, NBC10 reported. The university confirmed that Schmidt was a communications student who had been expected to enter his senior year.
