Milan Loncar, 25, was shot dead on Wednesday while walking his dog outside. The security footage shows two men on the pavement approaching him. Before being shot in the chest, they attempted to rifle in his pockets. Then the perpetrators fled from the scene as Milan clutched the leash of the puppy. Temple University's 2019 graduate worked in construction management.
The grieving mother of a shot dead Philadelphia man walking his dog paid tribute to her beloved son. A new Temple University graduate, Milan Loncar, 25, was walking his dachshund-chihuahua hybrid dog named Roo at around 7 pm on Wednesday when he was shot dead.
His mum, Amy Lounsberry, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that "it was all coming together" for "a sweet beloved boy just beginning his life."
Since majoring in engineering, he graduated from Temple University in 2019 and worked for a construction services firm for around a year.
The incident's security footage shows two offenders heading down the sidewalk — Milan was about a mile away from his house — and breaking up to Milan Corral when they approached him, stopping him in his tracks. In an attempt to avoid Milan, one of the perpetrators can be seen taking out what seems to be a gun and keeping it at chest height. The perpetrator then appears to aim for the pockets of Milan.
The police said a shot was then fired and the perpetrators fled away from the scene. For details leading to an arrest and prosecution, there is a $20,000 reward, and a GoFundMe set up to increase the reward has now collected more than $30,000.
In interviews with local news sources, Lounsberry has posted a variety of heartbreaking posts and talked about his life.
'He is so missed and we are trying to pull together and get everybody through,' she told 6 ABC.
'He was going to move in with his girlfriend in March, he had graduated and had his first job and was just starting.
'I don't know why they did it, I can't understand. They didn't get any money, did they need it so badly, were they trying to show off?
'I was so proud of him and everybody that he worked with, everybody he knew, they all said how he was doing so well. Everybody loved him.'
Lounsberry wrote on Facebook on Friday: 'I want to stand tonight where my son fell and I’m hoping some of you will stand with me in remembrance. I will be at 31st and Jefferson between 6:56, the time of the shots fired radio call, to 730 when he was declared dead.'
She then thanked people for attending, writing: 'Thank you all for coming tonight, it was so nice to have all of your support. I know we’re all shocked and hurting but we were together tonight.'
Police said that after he was shot and found injured in the street while still carrying the dog's leash, Milan used his mobile phone to call for assistance, CBS Philadelphia reported.
At around 7.30 pm at the hospital, Milan was pronounced dead. Police suspect Milan was killed in the aftermath of a robbery attempt. The Philadelphia Inquirer was informed by family members that Milan's house keys and mobile phone were found at the scene. He didn't have a wallet on it—he must have left it at home.
Jelena Loncar, 27, Milan's girlfriend, lives near her brother. She said she heard of the shooting first on the Citizen App from a warning while she was driving home with her mother from dinner. She was not sure of who had been shot at the time. She told CBS Philadelphia that she said she was calling Milan, who didn't answer his phone, prompting her to think the worst.
Arshiya Luthra, 26, Jelena's roommate, then went to the scene, described Milan, and then discovered that he was the person who was shot when the police took her dog to Milan, Luthra told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Jelena described her brother as being 'the kindest person in the entire world' and that he was 'selfless, constantly smiling.'
His uncle, Nikola Loncar, 66, told the newspaper that Milan was very polite. I don't think he's ever going to fight anybody.'
The police released video videos showing the suspects chasing and stopping Milan from several angles. The perpetrators were even seen on security video when they raced away.
Police are calling for assistance from the public in obtaining information on the attack, which they term an obvious robbery.
