Penn State Student Killed in Philadelphia Shooting

Philadelphia police have made public a surveillance video of a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Penn State student in South Philadelphia.

Billy Schmidt, age 22, lost his life early Saturday morning on the 1900 block of Darfall Street, as reported by authorities.

His father described him as a kind-hearted individual who would never harm anyone. “He cared about everyone, and for him to be shot like that is a travesty,” he said.

According to the police, the video shows suspects moving from Ritenour Street to Jackson Street before coming across Schmidt. After the shooting, they were seen fleeing on foot near 22nd Avenue and Porter Street.

Schmidt, a senior at Pennsylvania State University, was shot just yards from his family’s home around 1:30 a.m. Family members said he had been out watching the NBA Finals at a bar with friends.

A witness claimed he was shocked to see that the assailants chased Schmidt after stealing his phone. He mentioned that another person came out and shot him.

A memorial service took place on Wednesday night, where Schmidt’s childhood friends reflected on their bond. One friend noted, “We’ve all grown up leaning on each other, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.” Another expressed a desire for justice, stating, “I would love to see them in prison.”

Schmidt’s friends were unaware of the tragedy until the following day, now cherishing their final moments with him from that night. “He always said goodbye with a big hug and ‘I love you’,” one friend recalled.

A wake is scheduled for Thursday night. The victim’s sister condemned the perpetrators, calling them “animals for doing that”.

Philadelphia police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. They encourage anyone with details to contact them.