A pizza delivery driver was shot and killed while dropping off an order at an apartment complex in North Philadelphia, and police believe the delivery may have been used to lure him there.
The deadly shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, at the Raymond Rosen Homes along the 2300 block of Edgley Street, according to Philadelphia police.
The 28-year-old driver had been making a delivery when officers were called to the area for reports of gunfire.
When police arrived, they found the man lying on the ground unresponsive and bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to the head, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
The victim was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 a.m.
Investigators later learned that someone had called in a pizza order to a vacant unit inside the housing complex.
“From looking at the pizza boxes, we were able to identify the pizza shop,” Small said.
The victim reportedly worked for Pete’s Pizza.
Police found three pizza boxes and a bag inside the vacant apartment. The items appeared to be untouched, leading investigators to believe the driver had successfully dropped off the order before he was shot outside the building.
Officers also recovered three spent shell casings just inches from where the driver was found.
“That is an indication that the shooter or shooters were standing very, very close to the victim,” Small said.
The driver’s delivery vehicle was found nearby with a pizza warmer still inside.
Police said surveillance cameras operated by the Philadelphia Housing Authority captured parts of the incident. The shooting itself was not caught on video, but footage reportedly showed the delivery driver walking with the pizza boxes while two people dressed in dark clothing followed him. One of them appeared to be carrying a dark backpack.
No arrests have been made.
However, investigators said they do have a key lead: the phone number used to place the pizza order.
“We do have the phone number that made that pizza delivery,” Small said.
Police are now working to identify the people seen on camera and determine whether the delivery was deliberately sent to the vacant apartment as part of a setup.
