Penn State Student Shot Dead During Robbery

Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State journalism student, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in South Philadelphia early Saturday morning. Police are searching for two suspects who stole his phone and fired once, hitting him in the chest near 20th Street and Durfor Street.

The victim's father found Schmidt's phone under a car shortly after the shooting and turned it over to investigators, who hope DNA evidence on the device will help identify those responsible. A single spent shell casing was also recovered at the scene. Police are looking for more surveillance video to assist in their investigation.

According to police, Schmidt left a neighborhood bar when two suspects approached him. Surveillance footage shows one of them stealing his phone before he chased after them. The shooter then fired once, hitting Schmidt in the chest and killing him. He was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center but pronounced dead just 17 minutes later.

Police released surveillance footage Wednesday showing the two suspects wanted for the fatal shooting. The first suspect is roughly 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wore a gray-colored custom-designed 'KONFUSED' sweatshirt featuring skulls and crossbones with bejeweled halos above each skull. He had braids, according to police. The second suspect was roughly 5 feet, 3-5 inches tall and wore a black hooded sweatshirt with a light gray camouflage facemask. Police said he was the suspect who allegedly fired the handgun that killed Schmidt.

The two suspects fled the scene on foot and were last seen in the area of 22nd Street and Porter Street after they discarded their hooded sweatshirts and masks. Philadelphia is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Police have not announced any arrests but continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.

Schmidt's father described him as a respectful young man who never had problems with anyone. 'He was a great kid,' he said. 'Never had a problem with anyone, very respectful.' A memorial has grown at the site of his death, with flowers and photos surrounding a fire hydrant.

Schmidt's sister expressed her grief and anger over the loss of her brother. Anna Schmidt stated, 'I hope they find these animals and put them in cages for the rest of their lives,' emphasizing that the suspects deserve to spend the rest of their life in jail for taking away her brother.