Authorities identified the firefighter who was killed early Wednesday morning, and said his nephew admitted to fatally assaulting him.
Antonio Rodriguez, a 56-year-old member of the Philadelphia Fire Department, was pronounced dead at 4:13 a.m. Wednesday, Philadelphia Police said.
A man identified as the 27-year-old nephew of Rodriguez told police he fatally assaulted his uncle.
When officers arrived, they found the 27-year-old man behind a locked security gate enclosing the front porch.
After getting inside, officers found an unresponsive man, later identified as Rodriguez, inside the residence with no visible signs of injury.
The 27-year-old nephew told police he had fatally assaulted Rodriguez.
A homicide investigation has been launched after an off-duty firefighter was found dead in his Northeast Philadelphia home.
Police shared that a 56-year-old man was found unresponsive at a home along the 4700 block of Shelmire Avenue at about 3:51 a.m. on Wednesday. He was pronounced at the scene at about 4:13 a.m., police said.
Sources have reported that one person of interest was taken into police custoday
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“The Philadelphia Fire Department is heartbroken over the death of one of our members overnight,” the fire department said in a social media post. We are working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department as they investigate. We ask that everyone keep the member’s family and our colleagues in your thoughts as we process this tragedy.”
According to Daniel McCarty, executive chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department, fire crews were at the scene on Wednesday morning and his department was working with the Philadelphia Police Department following an incident at a home on that block.
“I can say the fire department is working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department at this time,” he told reporters gathered outside on Wednesday.
The fire department that the off-duty officer was apart of, shared their condolences and support for the family via social media.
“The Philadelphia Fire Department is heartbroken over the death of one of our members overnight,” the fire department said in a social media post. We are working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department as they investigate. We ask that everyone keep the member’s family and our colleagues in your thoughts as we process this tragedy.”
