A gunman killed a businessman walking his dog along a Philadelphia street Thursday night.
A gunshot rang out around 8:30 p.m. along the 6400 block of Woodcrest Avenue in the city’s Overbrook section.
Police found a 51-year-old James Patrick Stuhlman unresponsive.
"They found a male laying here in the center of the block, the dog leash was still in his hand, the dog was lying next to him -- appeared to be scared and in shock," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker. "In his other hand he had a flashlight."
Medics rushed Stuhlman to Presbyterian Hospital where he died of a gunshot wound to the chest, said Walker.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene.
Neighbors told police Stuhlman often walked his dog in the neighborhood around that time -- many times with his daughter, said Walker.
Luckily Stuhlman's daughter wasn't with him Thursday.
"His daughter goes fora walk with him almost every night," said Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit Capt. James Clark. "For whatever reason, he said to her, 'it's a little late tonight I don't want you walking with me.' So in effect, he may have saved his daughter's life."
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The dog wasn't hurt and it didn't appear the gunman took anything from Stuhlman.
Police didn't immediately have a description of the gunman. They hoped surveillance video captured some clues.
Stuhlman owned a Delaware County landscaping company with his brother Mike.
