A senior at Penn State was fatally shot near his family’s home in South Philadelphia after he confronted men who allegedly stole his phone.
Billy Schmidt, 22, was returning home from a local bar after watching the NBA Finals with friends on Saturday, June 6, when he was shot around 1:30 a.m., according to ABC7 Eyewitness News, NBC10 Philadelphia and Fox 29 Philadelphia.
A neighbor provided surveillance footage of the incident, which showed Schmidt walking toward another man and saying, “Give me back my phone!” Another man then walked ahead of Schmidt and shot him in the chest.
“He was chasing the kid who took the phone. Another kid came around and shot him,” Billy’s father, Bill Schmidt, claimed to Fox 29.
Billy was a student at Penn State University and had been studying digital journalism and media communications.
Penn State issued a statement after Billy’s death, stating that it was “heartbroken” about the incident.
“We are heartbroken this morning to learn of the tragic death of William Schmidt, and we share [our] deepest condolences with his family and friends. William was a fourth semester student from Philadelphia studying digital journalism and media at Penn State World Campus,” the school said, per NBC10. “Penn State Student Affairs is reaching out to William’s family to provide support.”
Following the killing, the Philadelphia Police Department launched a search for the suspects. However, no arrests have yet to have been made as of time of publication and police have not shared if they have any leads in the investigation.
“I’m shocked when they stole his phone that he chased them. The kid he is very low-key,” Bill told ABC7 of his son. “I want to find the two people and make them pay.”
Bill added that his son was “a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul. [He] never bothered anyone and for him to get shot like that is a travesty.”
Billy’s sister, Anna Schmidt, told Fox 29 that she missed her brother “so much.”
“I don’t understand how someone could do this to me and my family,” she continued. “I just think he’s going to walk through the door. … I want justice for him, for my family.”
Police have asked that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the PPPD at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or anonymously online.
The Philadelphia Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
