Shooter killed 77-year-old Juniata man for “no apparent reason,” police say

Mayfair shooting
Melissa Mitman

Police released a chilling video Wednesday showing a gunman running up behind a 77-year-old man in Juniata and shooting him in the head, killing him.

Loi Nguyen, who lived on the 4200 block of L Street, was walking in the driveway behind his house at around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday when he was shot by a man wearing a bright red hooded sweatshirt and matching sneakers.

In the video, the suspect didn’t break stride, continuing to run toward Bristol Street. Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said the fatal shot was fired “for no apparent reason at all.”

“I think the video points out the inhumanity of that particular individual,” Mayor Jim Kenney said Wednesday. “What type of person would do that to another human being?”

“I just don’t understand how you police that,” he added. “You certainly want to find him and lock him up — lock him up under the prison if necessary.”

Vanore said detectives were investigating another incident that occurred shortly before the killing involving a suspect with the same description.

In that case, which happened a few blocks away about an hour earlier, a man pulled a gun on two other men during an argument, Vanore said. No shots were fired.

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting is asked to contact the PPD’s Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/45 or email [email protected]. The city offers a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a homicide case.