Philadelphia police seek suspects in Penn State student’s fatal shooting

Philadelphia homicide detectives are treating William “Billy” Schmidt’s killing as a fast-moving street robbery that turned lethal in minutes, and the new surveillance footage may be the best chance to name the two men now being hunted. Police say Schmidt, 22, had been walking home after spending the night out with friends watching the NBA Finals when he was shot in the chest around 1:30 a.m. on the 1900 block of Durfor Street in South Philadelphia, about a block from his home.

Officers found Schmidt lying in the road and rushed him to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. Investigators believe one suspect wore a black mask and a light gray sweatshirt marked KONFUSED, while the other, believed to be the shooter, wore dark clothing, a camouflage-colored mask, and carried a handgun. Police said the sweatshirt was recovered during the investigation, and the suspects were seen in the area before they encountered Schmidt and again at their last known location after the shooting, when they had removed their hoodies and masks.

The Philadelphia Police Department publicly released the surveillance appeal on June 10 and said its Homicide Unit is trying to identify the two people shown in the video excerpts. A $20,000 reward is now on the table for information leading to an arrest and conviction, a sign that detectives want the public to help connect the clothing, the movement, and the faces behind the masks before the trail goes cold.

The killing has cut deeply through Schmidt’s family and his Penn State circle. His sister, Anna Schmidt, remembered him as one of the nicest and goofiest people she knew, and said he even slowed his pace during a 10K so she could keep up with him. His obituary identified him as the son of William and Kristin Schmidt, the beloved brother of Anna Schmidt, and a cherished grandson and nephew. Penn State officials said they were heartbroken over the death of the senior, who was slated to graduate in December 2026.

Schmidt’s family planned a vigil and protest in Philadelphia under the banner Justice for Billy, while the city’s broader violence picture keeps the pressure on investigators. Philadelphia had recorded 66 homicides in 2026 as of June 11, and Pew said the city’s 2025 homicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 residents, the sixth-highest among comparison cities. For detectives, the question is no longer who Billy Schmidt was. It is whether someone recognizes the two men who walked away from Durfor Street after taking his life.