What to Know
- The 20-year-old son of a Philadelphia Police Department official was shot to death at a city park, the department confirmed Sunday.
- Nicholas Flacco, the son of PPD Chief Inspector Christopher Flacco, was gunned down at Philly's FDR Park.
- A $35,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to an arrest.
A $35,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the gunman who shot and killed the 20-year-old son of a Philadelphia Police Department official at a city park.
Nicholas Flacco is the son of PPD Chief Inspector Christopher Flacco, who heads the department's Internal Affairs Unit, police said. He was gunned down Saturday night at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park.
Police responded to the park around 10 p.m. after someone called to report the shooting. The suspect fled in a green sedan, police said. Police have not released a physical description of the suspect but say he was dressed in all black clothing.
Flacco, who was home from Penn State's main campus to celebrate his 20th birthday, and friends were in the park after attending Saturday's Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves. The game ended around 7:30 p.m. The group was tailgating.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said Monday that two groups of women had an altercation before the male shooter appeared. Ross said the man could be a third party.
The shooter fired two gunshots — one into the air and another into the ground — before starting to walk away. Ross said he then turned around, aimed at Flacco's chest and fired the ultimately fatal shot from 15 feet away.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
"It appears that this individual deliberately fired a round into [Flacco's] chest," Ross said.
A motive for the shooting has not yet been released, and police have not made any arrests.
Ross said they have interviewed several witnesses, but is asking for anyone with information to come forward.
On Sunday, John McNesby, the president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, which represents Philadelphia law enforcement officers, called the shooting a senseless act of violence.
"Right now the family is asking for privacy and prayers and that is what we're doing," McNesby said.
The FOP is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest. The city of Philadelphia is also offering $20,000 while the Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Union Local 22 is offering $5,000, bringing the total to $35,000.
