Two brothers have been arrested in the shooting of a father-of-two in Philadelphia during a carjacking while his 2-year-old daughter sat in the back seat.
Police say 21-year-old Maurice Roberts and his 16-year-old brother, Marvin, were arrested Saturday in the death of 38-year-old Gerard Grandzol.
Grandzol was fatally shot in the face at point-blank range around 8pm on Thursday, just after he parked his SUV on the one-way street outside his family’s home in Philadelphia.
Police say 21-year-old Maurice Roberts and his 16-year-old brother, Marvin (pictured), were arrested Saturday in the death of 38-year-old Gerard Grandzol
Grandzol (left, and right with his wife) was fatally shot in the face at point-blank range around 8pm on Thursday, just after he parked his SUV on the one-way street outside his family’s home in Philadelphia
Police sources speculated to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Grandzol was shot in a carjacking gone wrong, after he gave up his wallet but refused to hand over his car keys to protect his daughter in the back seat.
Police say Grandzol was trying to get his daughter out of the car when he was shot twice in the head.
He was transported to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9.42pm.
Grandzol’s daughter and the family dog, Oscar, were both found unharmed in the car by responding officers.
Police say Grandzol was trying to get his daughter (left) out of the car when he was shot twice in the head
Gerard Grandzol, pictured with his two-year-old daughter, was transported to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9.42pm
Grandzol’s wife gave birth to their second daughter just five weeks before he was killed
‘We believe the motive was robbery. And we believe the victim’s wallet was taken. But for some unknown reason, the perpetrator fired two shots,’ Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said at a televised news conference.
The father-of-two was a community activist in his neighborhood and served on its development board.
Family members have created a GoFundMe page to help Grandzol’s wife and children.
Neighbor Ye Wan told the Inquirer that she saw Grandzol nearly every morning walking with his dog and daughter on the block.
Gerard Grandzol (pictured with his wife) was a community activist in his neighborhood and served on its development board
The family dog was also in the back seat of the SUV during the senseless shooting. The young girl and dog were both unharmed
‘He was always just so happy,’ she said, describing him as a ‘fabulous person’.
Grandzol’s social media profiles show his diverse interests and include many proud photos of his daughters.
‘Avid ice hockey defenseman, chef and creator of fine household items,’ his Twitter bio reads.
‘He was the neighbor and friend I wish everyone was fortunate enough to have,’ said Brad Griffith, 40, a longtime friend, told the Inquirer. ‘And I’m going to miss him.’
The shooting occurred on the 1500 block of Melon Street, a narrow one-way street lined with newly constructed townhouses in the Spring Garden neighborhood