A Philadelphia journalist who previously worked for the city government was shot and killed in his home early Monday morning.
Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times around 1:30 a.m. at his home in the Point Breeze neighborhood of the city. Kruger’s neighbor, Jaz Brown, heard the gunshots followed by Kruger calling for help, CBS News reported.
“Josh was calling for help and I called the police to make sure they’d come out for them,” Brown said.
The journalist was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he died less than an hour later, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Police said they believe someone entered Kruger’s home and shot him at the base of his stairs before fleeing. Authorities have yet to make an arrest or recover a weapon as they review surveillance footage from outside the rowhouse where Kruger was murdered.
Detectives believe the shooting stemmed from either a drug-related or domestic dispute, law enforcement sources told the Inquirer. The sources also said that investigators found methamphetamine in Kruger’s bedroom and recovered “troubling” text messages between Kruger and a former partner.
Kruger, who wrote for multiple newspapers and digital publications, previously worked for the city government. He handled Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney’s social media and served as the Office of Homeless Services’ communications director. Kruger was also an activist for LGBTQ issues and was open about being HIV positive.
“[Kruger] cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident in his public service and writing,” Kenney said. “Our administration was fortunate to call him a colleague, and our prayers are with everyone who knew him.”
Leftist District Attorney Larry Krasner said, “Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story.”
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While murders were down 18% in the City of Brotherly Love” through October 2 of this year, the city is reeling from record-high homicide rates in 2021 and 2022. Philadelphia saw 562 homicides in 2021 and 516 homicides in 2022, according to police crime data.