Slain Overbrook man was son of Philadelphia police officer

Dennis Gore Jr. exited a store at North 55th Street and Lansdowne Avenue in Overbrook yesterday afternoon with his girlfriend and was walking to get food. They had only traveled a block, to Hunter Street, when an unknown man walked up to Gore Jr., pumped five large-caliber rounds into his chest at point-blank range, then fled on foot.

“It appeared he didn’t say a word,” said Homicide Capt. James Clark today. Gore Jr. was pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m., 20 minutes after he was shot.

The broad-daylight slaying of the 24-year-old son of a Philadelphia police officer, has investigators stumped. “Right now, besides being tragic, it’s a mystery to us,” Clark said. “We have no idea why someone would do this.”

Clark said that Gore Jr. had two small children, worked every day and never had contact with police. By all accounts, he was a productive member of the community. Investigators have no leads.

“Kids were in the area getting off of school buses,” Clark said. “There were a lot of people around. We know someone out there saw something.” He encouraged members of the public to come forward. All city homicides now come with a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the person responsible.

The suspect is described as a thin, 5-feet-7 black man with a dark complexion and a goatee wearing a gray hoodie, dark jeans, black Nike sneakers and a baseball cap. Anyone with information is asked to call 215-686-TIPS (8477), submit an anonymous tip online or to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or 3335.