A Penn State senior was shot to death just steps from his family’s South Philadelphia home after surveillance footage appeared to show him chasing two suspects who had taken his phone.
22-year-old Billy Schmidt was only yards from home when the encounter turned deadly around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
The newly released video places the suspects near 20th Street, moving from Ritner Street toward Jackson Street before Schmidt entered the frame.
After the shooting, police say the pair fled on foot around 22nd and Porter streets.
Schmidt had spent the night at a nearby bar watching the NBA Finals with friends and was heading home, relatives said.
Multiple cameras picked up the final moments from different angles.
The video shows two hooded figures in dark clothing stopping near Schmidt before the confrontation moved down the block. Schmidt could be heard saying, “Give me back my phone.”
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As Schmidt closed the distance, one suspect appeared to toss the phone while the other lifted a gun and fired.
Bill Schmidt later recovered the phone from beneath a car and handed it over to investigators.
“I’m shocked he chased them after they took his phone,” the elder Schmidt said, according to WPVI. “From what we’re told, another person came out and shot him.”
The grieving father said his son had never been the kind of person to hurt anyone.
“He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul, never bothered anyone, and for him to get shot like that is a travesty,” Bill Schmidt said in an interview with WPVI.
He also made clear what he wants next. “I want to find the two people and make them pay,” he said.
By Wednesday night, Schmidt’s friends were mourning together at a South Philadelphia memorial.
“Leaning on each other is all we did growing up, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” Jaden Kelly said in a WPVI interview.
Matthew Segal said he wanted the suspects behind bars. “I hope they find them. I want [them] in jail. That’s what I want. They don’t deserve to get to walk away from what they did,” Segal said.
A neighbor, Ezra Roulinavage, described the killing as senseless.
“Over a phone. It’s abhorrent. It’s just unbelievable that someone would kill someone over a phone,” Roulinavage said in an interview with NBC Philadelphia.
A $20,000 reward is available for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction.
Penn State later identified Schmidt as a World Campus student and said support was being offered to his family.
“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,” the university said.
“William was a fourth semester student from Philadelphia studying digital journalism and media at Penn State World Campus. Penn State Student Affairs is reaching out to William’s family to provide support.”
In Mississippi, another family was left shattered after authorities said a teenager broke into an elderly couple’s home, killed them and then opened fire as deputies arrived.
Authorities say 17-year-old Cordarius Hobbs killed Billy Blair, 74, and Virginia Carol Blair, 71, after entering their Mendenhall home on June 3.
Relatives’ unanswered calls brought Simpson County deputies to the Blairs’ home.
Gunfire erupted as deputies reached the property, officials said.
Bailey Martin, a Department of Public Safety spokesperson, described the scene as an active burglary that left deputies and nearby civilians “pinned down by gunfire.”
The surrender never happened at the front door, according to Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who said Hobbs bolted out the back instead.
A pursuit followed, and a deputy was hit by gunfire. A state trooper later shot Hobbs, who was taken into custody and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Hobbs now faces capital murder, burglary and multiple aggravated-assault charges tied to the couple, civilians and law enforcement.
The Blair family later posted a statement on Facebook after the couple’s deaths. “We are crushed in spirit, bruised, and brokenhearted, but we are not alone.”
The case took another twist when authorities confirmed Cordarius Hobbs is the brother of two suspects arrested in a separate deputy shooting.
His brothers, Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs, 18, and Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs, 19, were later tied to the shooting of Covington County Deputy Yates Rodney.
Rodney had pulled over a blue SUV after allegedly seeing the driver without a seatbelt.
Suspected narcotics and contraband were spotted inside during the stop, authorities said.
The stop turned into a chase, ending when the SUV got stuck near the Mount Olive Post Office and Cash Saver Grocery Store.
Rodney stepped out and ordered the brothers out of the SUV, according to investigators.
The driver allegedly kept working to free the vehicle as the passenger got out and lay on the ground with his hands up. Deputy Austin Riels soon arrived as backup.
The passenger then allegedly sprang up and fired as Rodney moved toward the SUV.
A bullet hit Rodney below the shoulder and arm area before Riels fired back. Neither suspect was struck, and both escaped on foot.
Investigators found the brothers hiding under a home around 1 a.m. the next day.
Rodney was transported for treatment and remained under medical care, according to the sheriff’s office.
Both brothers now face two attempted-capital-murder counts and hindering-prosecution charges. Cortavion was also charged with felony fleeing.
Bond was denied on the attempted-capital-murder charges, though each brother received $250,000 bond on hindering prosecution. Cortavion received another $250,000 bond on the fleeing charge.
