(UnitedHeadlines.com) – In the afternoon of March 5, grandfather and U.S. Air Force veteran Richard Butler, 88, was shot and killed in West Philadelphia while sitting in his car.
He was shot twice in the chest while sitting in his white Hyundai Santa Fe after dropping his girlfriend off at her house on North Dewey Street, which was part of his everyday routine. He planned on taking his girlfriend out to dinner later that day.
According to Butler’s family, the suspect had been sitting in a parked car before Butler arrived to drop off his girlfriend. Video footage shows the suspect get out of a silver sedan, run to Butler’s car, and shoot him. Despite being shot, Butler attempted to drive away, with his car jumping the curb of the sidewalk and hitting a plant before it came to a stop. Bystanders rushed to help Butler, breaking the driver’s side window of the vehicle using a tire iron to help get him out of the car.
He was transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, which is three miles away from the scene, where he was pronounced dead.
The veteran and retired driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority was known as a “brother to everyone,” according to Minette Finn, Butler’s great niece. She said, “This wasn’t a random act,” adding that the family wants answers about why this happened to him. She said he was loved by his family and the community, saying, “he gave to everyone.”
Butler’s son, Orlando Butler, said his dad “never bothered nobody,” adding that he was an “outstanding citizen.” Orlando Butler said when he was growing up, his dad took the kids from the block to Wildwood and Atlantic City, showing them how life was outside Philadelphia. He said this is “truly a sad situation.”
According to the police report, no weapons were recovered at the scene. Police said there have been arrests.
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