Police in Philadelphia are asking the public to help them identify the man who shot and murdered a Democratic Party staffer on a sidewalk late last week.
Everett Beauregard, 23, was a recent graduate of Temple University and was walking home in Philadelphia when he was murdered on Thursday.
Police say they don’t have a motive in the slaying, but it appears to have been an “unprovoked murder.”
Authorities released surveillance footage of the shooting and have appealed to the public for help. Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.
“Tragically, Mr. Beauregard’s life was cut short by this horrific act of violence and for no apparent reason whatsoever. This was not a robbery attempt as we initially believed,” Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith said at a press conference on Friday.
“As Mr. Beauregard passes the offender, the offender quickly turns around and immediately begins firing at Mr. Beauregard as his back is turned towards him,” Smith said.
“Mr. Beauregard is struck one time in the base of his neck, severing his spinal cord. Mr. Beauregard is observed collapsing onto the sidewalk.”
The shooter ran off and fired one more round into Beauregard as he lay on the ground. Police said the suspect was seen lingering in the area for more than an hour before the fatal slaying.
“The offender was observed on video surveillance lingering around the area well before the incident at 11:21 p.m.,” he said.
“Not a word was spoken between the two prior to the offender shooting Mr. Beauregard in the back,” Smith said.
In 2018, Beauregard worked for Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-P.A. In 2020, he was a local Democratic Party leader in Philadelphia during the presidential election. He was employed at Wells Fargo.
“He was a nice, well liked, and purposeful young man with a bright future ahead of him,” Boyle said in a statement. “We will truly miss him and we grieve along with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Warning: This video is upsetting.
WATCH: Video has been released of the shooting murder of 23 year-old Democratic Party staffer Everett Beauregard.
Police say the motive may be a robbery, but nothing was even attempted to be taken from the victim… pic.twitter.com/8sO86pl4yg
— PhillyCrimeUpdate (@PhillyCrimeUpd) September 23, 2022