Police were reviewing surveillance video after the fatal shooting near 20th and Durfor streets.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A 22-year-old Penn State student was shot and killed early Saturday near his family’s South Philadelphia home after an apparent robbery, police and relatives said, as investigators searched for suspects and reviewed neighborhood surveillance video.
Billy Schmidt, a senior at Penn State University, was walking home around 1:30 a.m. Saturday near the 1900 block of Durfor Street when he was shot in the chest. His family said he had been out with friends watching the NBA Finals at a local bar before the shooting. Police have not announced any arrests. Investigators have not released a confirmed motive, though relatives and neighbors said the shooting appeared to follow the theft of Schmidt’s phone.
Schmidt was close to home when the encounter unfolded on a residential block lined with rowhouses and parked cars. His father, Bill Schmidt, said his son was a quiet young man who cared about people and had not hurt anyone. “He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul,” Bill Schmidt said. “For him to get shot like that is a travesty.” Family members said Schmidt was preparing for his senior year and expected to graduate in December. He was studying communications at Penn State.
Surveillance video from nearby homes showed two young men speaking with Schmidt moments before the shooting, according to reports from the scene. In one recording, Schmidt can be heard asking for his phone back. Other video appeared to show a person throwing a cellphone, then another person running around a corner as Schmidt followed. The gunman then turned and fired, striking Schmidt in the chest. Bill Schmidt said he later found his son’s phone under a car and gave it to police. Police had not said Sunday whether the phone had been processed for evidence or whether it helped identify any suspects.
Schmidt was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center after the shooting but did not survive. Police said homicide investigators were reviewing video from homes in the area and speaking with neighbors who saw or heard parts of the encounter. No suspect names had been released. Authorities also had not said whether more than one person could face charges if arrests are made. Neighbors said the shooting shocked the block because it happened only steps from where Schmidt lived and because the dispute appeared to involve a stolen phone.
By Sunday, neighbors had begun building a memorial at the spot where Schmidt was shot, directly across from his home. Flowers and other items marked the sidewalk as residents gathered and talked about the killing. South Philadelphia resident Michael Smith said the neighborhood had come together, but only after a painful loss. “The neighbors, we come together,” Smith said. “It’s really important. It’s sad we have to come together over a death.” Other residents said they had turned over doorbell and porch camera video to detectives in hopes the recordings would help trace the people seen near Schmidt before the gunfire.
The case remained in the early stages Sunday. Police had not filed charges, identified suspects or released a detailed description of the shooter. Investigators also had not publicly confirmed whether the encounter began as a robbery, an attempted robbery or another kind of dispute. Family members said they believed Schmidt was robbed of his phone before he was shot. A neighbor who reviewed the video said the people seen near Schmidt appeared young and urged anyone who recognized them to speak with police. Another neighbor said the killing was hard to understand because it appeared to come “over a phone.”
Schmidt’s death added to the grief of relatives who described him as low-key and kind. His father said he was shocked that his son chased after the people who had taken the phone. “I want to find the two people and make them pay,” Bill Schmidt said. The family’s statements came as detectives worked through video clips from several angles, including footage that showed one person ducking behind parked cars while another ran away. Police did not say whether the gun used in the shooting had been recovered.
Investigators were continuing to collect evidence and review surveillance video Sunday. The next step in the case is expected to be the release of more information from Philadelphia police if suspects are identified or arrests are made.
Author note: Last updated June 7, 2026.