Police have identified a father and part-time limo driver who was shot and killed during a robbery in West Philadelphia Saturday night.
Mijael Rodriguez-Ramirez, 24, was found dead inside his 2007 silver Chrysler 300 Saturday night. The father of a 5-month-old girl had just started working for La Primera Car Inc. a week ago.
The co-owner of the company told NBC10 the ordeal began when Rodriguez-Ramirez picked up two passengers on the 3200 block of 7th Street in North Philadelphia.
Rodriguez-Ramirez, who lived in Kensington but was originally from the Dominican Republic, dropped one passenger off in North Philly and then took the second to the 5400 block of Delancey Street in West Philly around 7:10 p.m.
Without warning, the second passenger pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking Rodriguez-Ramirez in the face, according to the company co-owner. The passenger then stole a cell phone as well as cash before fleeing the scene.
The co-owner said the company realized something was wrong when Rodriguez-Ramirez no longer responded to any calls and his GPS location remained the same. They then called police who responded to the scene.
Police found Rodriguez-Ramirez slumped over inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound in the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at 7:24 p.m.
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The co-owner told NBC10 Rodriguez-Ramirez's girlfriend was in the passenger seat and witnessed the shooting but was not harmed. She was interviewed by detectives Saturday.
Rodriguez-Ramirez's family told NBC10 he first worked at a catering company after he moved to the United States. He got a second job working as a limo driver after his daughter was born.
"He was just trying to make a living," said his brother Tuedy Gonzalez. "He was trying to provide food for his wife and kids."
Officials have not yet released a description of the suspect. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
La Primera Car Inc. is based in North Philadelphia and is made up of about 90 drivers and vehicles, mostly Chrysler 300s and Lincoln Town cars.
Rodriguez-Ramirez's death marks the third homicide in Philadelphia in 2015.
