A Vietnam War veteran is under suspicion for fatally shooting an illegal immigrant believed to be involved in a construction fraud operation he had hired for work on his home in Philadelphia, as reported by officials and news outlets.
Police say George Barr, 75, allegedly shot 20-year-old Sallis Hanrahan from Essex, England, during a dispute inside Barr’s home in Roxboro around 2 pm last Wednesday.
Neighbors noted that Hanrahan was part of a team installing siding. One nearby worker reportedly ran from the house screaming before collapsing from a gunshot wound to his chest.
While investigators have not disclosed a motive for the incident, federal authorities recently shared new information that could provide some context regarding the British immigrant.
The Department of Homeland Security described Mr. Hanrahan as being part of a “travel scammer fraud group” composed of British and Irish crooks operating in the U.S., who were reportedly charging customers excessive fees for poorly completed work.
DHS also indicated that Hanrahan was in the U.S. illegally after his visa application was denied due to his connections to a travel fraud ring classified as a transnational criminal organization by the FBI.
Details about how deeply Hanrahan was involved with the gang remain unclear.
After being shot in the chest, he managed to exit the home but fell and later died in the hospital, according to police and witnesses.
Barr has been arrested and charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person, as stated in court documents. It’s uncertain if he has made a plea.
Neighbors were taken aback by the incident, describing Barr as a polite, friendly man who often acted as an unofficial neighborhood watch. One neighbor expressed disbelief, saying, “It’s really crazy that something like that happened here.” They noted that construction workers had been working quietly in their neighborhood without any previous issues.
This case is still under investigation, and Philadelphia police have declined to comment further.
