Mamadou Makadji, 22, came from Mali West Africa in April to study English at Temple University. He hoped to return to his country to work on a business he started before moving to Philadelphia.
But his dream ended when a gunman shot and killed him during an attempted robbery at Elmwood Park in Southwest Philadelphia early Monday morning.
The West African immigrant and two friends were sitting on a bench in the park around 1 a.m. when a gunman approached them asking for drugs, then money, according to police.
“We said we have nothing. He said empty your pockets, then he pulled out the gun and shot him,” another Temple University student said under the condition of anonymity.
Investigators believe a language barrier might have set the gunman off. Makadji didn’t speak very much English and at one point he reportedly put his head down because he did not understand what the gunman told him to do. He was then struck with the pistol and shot once in the chest.
Family members and friends mourned Makadji during a vigil Monday night just a few feet away from where he was killed.
“Last night, one of my friends called and said he was shot. I don’t know why. Why would they do that to us?” asked a friend.
“In Africa, people get the gun for the animal, not for the people,” said Makadji's Uncle.
Anyone with any information on the shooting should call the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit at (215) 686-3334.
