A 43-year-old man was shot multiple times and killed while on his way to evening prayers at a Philadelphia mosque on Tuesday. Police have described the incident as an “execution-type homicide.”
The suspect is still at large, and the motive remains unknown, according to police.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and a shooting on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. ET. The victim was found in the mosque’s parking lot, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, torso, and head, stated Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The shooter, dressed in dark clothing, fled the scene in a vehicle, Small reported.
Surveillance footage from the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society captured the shooting. “You can clearly see our victim walking to this mosque for a prayer service. He was walking with another male. You see the shooter run up behind the victim, and from just a few feet away, begin firing shots,” Small explained during a press briefing.
Even after the victim collapsed, the shooter continued firing. “Our victim clearly appears to be the intended target,” Small added.
The victim’s name has not been released, and the man he was walking with was unharmed, police said.
Seventeen spent shell casings from a large caliber semi-automatic weapon were found at the scene, Small noted.
The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a dark-colored sedan with a replacement or donut tire on the right front passenger side.
Police are reviewing additional surveillance footage from the area and have identified several witnesses to the shooting. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
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“Violence outside of a house of worship is deeply painful and traumatizing for those simply showing up to worship and practice their faith,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement on social media. “As an investigation into this killing proceeds, I’m praying for Philadelphia’s Al-Aqsa Islamic Society community, a place I’ve been several times, and hoping they find peace in each other and in their faith.”
