Penn State Student Fatally Shot After Chasing Alleged Phone Thieves in Philadelphia

Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old digital communications and media major at Penn State who was set to graduate in December, was fatally shot in the chest in Philadelphia in the early hours of Saturday morning after pursuing two men who stole his cellphone. Surveillance footage, including Ring doorbell and security camera video timestamped at 1:30 a.m. on June 6, 2026, shows Schmidt confronting the suspects and asking for his phone back before one of them shot him; he was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. His father, Bill Schmidt, described his son as his 'best friend' and said those responsible 'need to pay,' while his uncle expressed grief on social media, saying Schmidt was killed 'over a phone' steps from his own home. Police have recovered Schmidt's phone and a single shell casing from the scene, and the Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney confirmed investigators are working diligently on the case. No arrests have been made. Schmidt's sister Anna launched a GoFundMe that has raised over $63,000, and Penn State expressed condolences, noting Schmidt had aspired to work for the Philadelphia Eagles. A community protest vigil calling for 'Justice for Billy' is scheduled for Thursday.