Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger was shot dead by teen he was ‘trying to help’: police

Slained Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger knew his alleged killer and tried to “help him get through life” before the suspect fatally shot him.
Twitter/Josh Kruger

The Philadelphia journalist gunned down inside his home earlier this week was an acquaintance with his alleged killer and was “trying to help him get through life,” police said on Friday.

Philadelphia police named Robert Davis, 19, as the suspect in the death of freelance reporter Josh Kruger in his Point Breeze neighborhood.

Davis allegedly shot Kruger seven times in the chest and abdomen while the journalist stood at the base of his stairs inside his home around 1:30 a.m. on Monday as the teen fled the area.

Kruger, 39, left his home in search of help before collapsing on the street where he was found and rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

“At this time we believe that Mr. Kruger was trying to help Mr. Davis, and they were acquaintances,” said Philadelphia Police Department Lieutenant Hamilton Marshmond. “He was just trying to help him just get through life.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Davis, who is wanted for “murder and related offenses.”

Davis is considered to be armed and dangerous.

“We are also asking Mr. Davis to surrender himself to the police,” Marshmond added.

Robert Davis, 19, was named as the suspect in the death of freelance reporter Josh Kruger in his Point Breeze neighborhood on Monday. Philadelphia Police Department

Police noted there is footage that shows Davis in the area of Kruger’s house before the fatal shooting, but a specific location wasn’t given.

A motive for the shooting was not provided by police either.

Kruger was a former City Hall employee who worked as the communications director for the city’s Office of Homeless Service from 2016 to 2021.

Kruger left his home searching for help before collapsing on the street where he was found and rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead less than an hour later.Fox 29 Philadelphia/YouTube

Kruger was a former City Hall employee who worked as the communications director for the city’s Office of Homeless Service from 2016 to 2021.AP

Following his stint in public service, Kruger wrote freelance articles and editorials for outlets such as the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Citizen on topics including homelessness and LGBTQ+ issues.

Following his death, Kruger was remembered by the Philadelphia District Attorney as an “openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness.”

“Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story. As with all homicides, we will be in close contact with the Philadelphia Police as they work to identify the person or persons responsible so that they can be held to account in a court of law,” Larry Krasner said.

Following his death, Kruger was remembered by the Philadelphia District Attorney as an “openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness.”Twitter/Josh Kruger

Kruger was “A comrade who never stopped advocating for queer Philadelphians living on the margins of society,” the DA’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee said in a release.

“His struggles mirrored so many of ours – from community rejection, to homelessness, to addiction, to living with HIV, to poverty – and his recovery, survival, and successes showed what’s possible when politicians and elected leaders reject bigotry and work affirmatively to uplift all people,” the council added.

With Post wires

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