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Gov. Josh Shapiro reacts to deadly shooting outside Philadelphia mosque: 'Deeply painful and traumatizing'

Published  July 31, 2024 8:55am EDT
Josh Shapiro
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Man gunned down in Philadelphia mosque parking lot

Philadelphia Police say a man was shot and killed execution style while going into a North Philadelphia mosque to pray Tuesday evening.

PHILADELPHIA - Governor Josh Shapiro took to social media following a deadly shooting outside a Philadelphia mosque, calling the murder "deeply painful and traumatizing.' 

Shapiro, a front runner to join Kamala Harris' presidential bid, posted on X shortly after a 43-year-old Raheem Jefferson was gunned down outside Al-Aqsa Islamic Society.

"Violence outside a house of worship is deeply painful and traumatizing for those simply showing up to worship and practice their faith," Shapiro wrote. 

Investigators say a lone gunman ambushed the Jefferson in the parking lot of the mosque located on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

Inspector Scott Small told reporters that surveillance video shows the shooter running up behind Jefferson and opening fire. 

"The shooter stands over the victim from a few feet away and continues firing shots" Small said.

Jefferson was taken to Temple Hospital where police say he died. No arrests were made and no description of a possible suspect was provided by police.

"I'm praying for Philadelphia's Al-Aqsa Islamic Society community, a place I've been several times, and hoping they find peace in each other and in their faith," Shaprio wrote.