Story perspectives

Penn State Student Killed in South Philly After Phone Theft

6/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State University senior, was shot and killed at 1:30 a.m. on June 6, 2026, on Durfor Street in South Philadelphia.
Cameras captured Schmidt pleading for his stolen phone seconds before the gunshot.
Police recovered the phone under a nearby car and are seeking DNA evidence.
Penn State University offered condolences, counseling, and crisis-line support to Schmidt’s family.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $53,000 for the family.

History

Historical Context

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, signed by President Bill Clinton on November 30 1993 after Representative Chuck Schumer’s push, created federal background checks and led to the FBI-run NICS in 1998. A 1997 Supreme Court ruling struck the mandatory state-law enforcement check, but most dealers kept using the system. The June 6 2026 Philadelphia shooting of Penn State student Billy Schmidt shows the law’s limits.

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Story summary

Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State University senior, was shot and killed at 1:30 a.m. on June 6, 2026, on Durfor Street in South Philadelphia.
Cameras captured Schmidt pleading for his stolen phone seconds before the gunshot.
Police recovered the phone under a nearby car and are seeking DNA evidence.
Penn State University offered condolences, counseling, and crisis-line support to Schmidt’s family.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $53,000 for the family.

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