Police today announced a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the July 1 shooting death of Michael Hagan, 32, a technical consultant who was found unconscious on the 400 block of Lombard Street around 3:30 a.m. He died at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital an hour later.
“He just loved the city,” Carol Hagan said of her son, who moved to Philadelphia from Pennsauken, N.J. to attend Drexel University in 1993 and later bought a house on the 1500 block of Earl Street. “He loved being part of the revitalization of Fishtown.”
“There was nowhere else he wanted to live but this city. He loved this
city,” his father Michael Hagan Sr. echoed. “But they’re being picked
off one at a time by these predators, by these murderers. These guys
have got to be caught. I’m just praying that someone will call about
this.”
Carol Hagan cited two other shootings that have occurred in the same area over the past nine months. “This is Society Hill,” she said incredulously. “They were going out for a good time, a night on the town, and spending money in the city they love. … Nobody warned these kids there was all this crime.”
Capt. James Clark of the Homicide Unit said Hagan went out with friends that night to Morgan’s Pier at Delaware Avenue and Spring Garden streets. “We know through investigation they left the club at about 1:30 a.m., got into a cab outside of the club and we believe the cab took them to the area of 4th and Market streets,” he said.
He said Hagan and at least one friend were walking south on 4th Street when an unknown man “accosted” Hagan, taking his wallet and keys. Further details are scant. “We need someone to come forward,” Clark pleaded. “We need a description, we need
traps of flight. Did he get away on foot, on a bike, did he have an
accomplice? And we believe somebody saw something and no matter how
trivial you believe that is, we need you to contact us.”
“Anyone who has any information about this senseless and very sad murder, please contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or 3335.”
The city of Philadelphia is offering its standard $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. The Citizens Crime Commission is matching the amount with $15,000 from the victim’s family and $5,000 put up by the New Jersey State Police due to what Citizens Crime Commission President John Appledorn called “a family connection.” Their number is 215-546-TIPS.
Clark said one of the men Hagan left the club with was found unconscious near
Hagan’s body. He was not shot, but investigators believe he was
assaulted during the same incident.
That man has not yet been able to provide details about what occurred, though
police would not say why. “Hopefully we’ll get him in here today or
tomorrow and we’ll be able to
get something further,” Clark said.
He said that surveillance video recovered from the area has also revealed little. Investigators are still sorting through the footage and canvassing local homes and businesses for more.
The incident may be the latest in a disturbing pattern of unsolved assaults in the area. On June 11, a 24-year-old man was riding his bike on the 400 block of Gaskill Street, about a half block south of Lombard Street, when he was shot twice in the back following a physical altercation with two men around 11:45 p.m.
A $17,200 reward was offered following a similar shooting in November on the 400 block of Pine Street, a block north of Lombard. Darren Rogers, 46, was seen on surveillance video walking home from work around 4 a.m. when two men appeared to spontaneously attack him. One of the men then allegedly stood over him and directly fired a round into his chest.
Rogers is still under the care of a hospital and is now paralyzed. His family and friends set up a fund for those who wish to donate toward his recovery.
“We’ve been
in constant contact with Central Detectives who cover that area and we’re
tracking any robbery patterns or anything that fits that description,” Clark said.
“We’re working that angle, as well.
Michael Sr. fondly remembered his son, the oldest of three children, who had been working at Grant Thornton, LLP as a technical consultant for eight years. He said his son loved traveling and spending time outdoors, recalling his stint in the Peace Corps and a semester he spent studying abroad in Europe. “He led a full life,” he said. “He did more in 32 years than I probably ever will.”
He said that his family has received an outpouring of support. “All the stuff you read about him in his obituary, all of it is true,” he said. “…You don’t know how many friends somebody really has until a tragedy like this.”
“What we are looking for now is just to let people know that there is a murderer out there who took our son,” he continued. “God knows we wouldn’t want this for anyone and please, if you know anything and if you seen anything, any little clue, just call the police. This guy’s out there. I don’t think he’s going to go away.”
