Campaign volunteer shot dead in front of candidate

[Hissyspit]

Source: NBC Philidelphia

Gunman Kills Man Moments After Victim Spoke With Pennsylvania House Candidate

By David Chang and Dan Stamm

Philadelphia Police are investigating two deadly shootings, including one shooting that left a victim dead just moments after talking to a political candidate. NBC10's Pamela Osborne has more. (Published 4 hours ago)

Two friends were gunned down a short distance and just hours apart -- one of which was witnessed by a Pennsylvania House candidate who spoke with the victim only moments before he was killed Sunday.

Chris Rabb, a Democratic candidate running for state representative of Pennsylvania’s 200th legislative district, was canvassing on the 1400 block of Vernon Road in Philadelphia around 3:30 p.m. Rabb's campaign manager told NBC10 the candidate introduced himself to a 21-year-old man who was in the area and they had a conversation.

The man, later identified as Alex Cherry, told Rabb he wanted to work the polls during Pennsylvania's primary Tuesday and was interested in his platform, according to the campaign manager. A volunteer with Rabb then took down the Cherry's number. As Rabb and his volunteer walked away a gunman suddenly walked up to Cherry and shot him in the head at point-blank range, according to police.The gunman -- described as a man standing around 6-feet tall with short hair -- then returned to shoot Cherry two more times, said police.
Rabb managed to pull his volunteer to safety into a nearby store. The 21-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:43 p.m.

"I seen all the police cars but I had no idea that it was someone in my family," said Vyvyan Harris, the victim's aunt. "But then my nephew walks over to me and says, 'Aunt Viv. He's gone.'"
Neither Rabb nor his volunteer were injured. Police also say they were not the gunman's intended targets. The campaign manager told NBC10 Rabb was "beyond devastated" by the shooting. Rabb was later interviewed by homicide detectives.

Read more: http://www.alan.com/2016/04/25/campaign-volunteer-shot-dead-in-front-of-candidate/

[fred v]

1. Anything

Just anything.
Wow.

[bjobotts]

2. Sick. How do you get by such an incident?

[MH1]

3. This is believed to be gang-related. It's everyday big city violence.

This is why the people in Philly want different gun-control laws than the republicans in Harrisburg will allow.

This is why someone like myself, who hears what the grieving community says to reporters on the local radio, believes the role of police - and the desire for residents for that police presence - is a whole lot more complicated than the picture painted in the aftermath of wrongful killings by police.

[Angel Martin]

10. This is why the people in Philly want different gun-control laws than the republicans in Harrisburg

so how do gun control laws effect the activities of a gangland hitman ?

[MH1]

12. Raising the barrier to obtain weapons means fewer weapons are obtained.

Especially by younger, less competent gangland hitmen.

Your implied argument is correct when it comes to highly competent criminals. But lots of gun crimes are committed by less competent criminals, some of whom will be deterred by higher barriers to gun acquisition.

And anyway, the residents WANT more gun control, rather than a gun-soaked war zone. I think they have a right to it.

[Angel Martin]

14. if Philly residents want separate laws

from the rest of the state, they can, within reason, have them (like NYC)

the problem becomes when guns arrive from outside the city... then the city politicians complain that the rest of the state has to change to accommodate them... and when that doesn't work... then the other states have to change as well...

unfortunately this is a problem where the big cities are blaming outsiders instead of solving their own problems.

(I suggest they start by bringing back stop and frisk, instead of plans to harass rural gunowners).

[Doctor_J]

4. Another well regulated militiaman protecting himself from the tyrannical government

[Betty Karlson]

9. Is it that?

Might as well be our first suspicion by now. The NRA is a horror.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

5. "Suspect described as 6ft tall with short hair"

Oh, wow. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

[Paper Roses]

6. We are going to hell in a handbasket. n/t

[3catwoman3]

8. We may already...

...be there.

[MADem]

7. That was quite obviously an assassination.

Very "organized crime" style, too, with the "One to the head, two to the body" thing. If they left the gun behind, a characteristic of gangland hits (so the gun couldn't be used to trace a path to other crimes), that would be totally old-school.

[Angel Martin]

11. It's not necessary with a semi auto

instead of dumping the whole handgun you can just change the barrel and things that mark the brass like the ejector, extractor, firing pin etc.

[MADem]

13. Might not be necessary, nowadays, but it is prudent.

That way there's no chance of a screw up. Also, it doesn't encourage an unnaturally proprietary fondness for the weapon.

I imagine the "made guys" saw it as a function of workmanship and discipline, as well. No praising or blaming the tools--that's what they are. Leave them when the job is complete.

That all said, I hope they find this guy, try him, convict him, and put him in jail and toss the key.

[Angel Martin]

15. I agree with getting the shooter into prison asap

obviously a dangerous murderer. Given the way it was done, probably not his first hit, and won't be his last.