A man was arrested after police say he made a false tip call accusing two men of robbing and killing a young architect.
On Sunday, around 10:35 p.m., Amber Long, 26, was shot to death in front of her mother while the two walked from the train to their car in the Northern Liberties section of the city.
Investigators say two robbers ambushed Long and her 50-year-old mother as they were walking along the 900 block of Front Street toward their car, parked at Front and Poplar Streets.
"One of the males snatched the mother's purse from off of her shoulder and fled on foot," said Captain James Clark who heads up the homicide division.
Long, an architect who lived on W. Ritner Street in South Philadelphia, resisted giving up her purse, Clark said.
"The second male, who was attempting to snatch the purse from the daughter, during the struggle, pulled out a gun and fired it one time, striking her in the chest," Clark said. "He does not get her purse."
Police say the suspects then fled the scene in a Black Impala.
Officers rushed Long to Hahnemann Hospital where she died around 11:15 p.m.
"It's very sad. It was very random," Clark said. "I believe these males saw them and thought they were easy targets."
Investigators say a tip call from 44-year-old Lamar Beatty led them to a home in the Olney section of the city where they found two men. Officials initially said that the men fit the descriptions of the robbers and the men were taken in for questioning.
Monday afternoon, investigators returned to the home with a search warrant.
"We believe the gun and possibly the purse is inside the property, but obviously we won't know that until we get inside," Clark said.
Tuesday afternoon however, police told NBC10 that the two men of interest were released. Officials determined that they had nothing to do with the crime and that Beatty had falsely accused them. Beatty was arrested and charged with falsifying reports after investigators determined that he intentionally provided them the information without merit.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Police have not yet revealed whether they have any new suspects or people of interest in Long's murder.
The city is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in this case. Anyone with information can contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-3334 or x3335.
