A father of two has been shot dead in a suspected carjacking gone wrong, likely after he refused to hand over the car keys with his daughter strapped into the back seat.
Gerard Grandzol, 38, 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.
Grandzol, the married father of the two-year-old daughter in the car and a five-week-old newborn daughter, worked as the executive director of Special Counsel, a legal recruiting and staffing firm.
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.
Gerard Grandzol, pictured with his two-year-old daughter, was shot dead on Thursday in Philadelphia. Police speculate he was trying to protect her from a carjacker
Grandzol’s wife gave birth to their second daughter just five weeks before he was killed
Grandzol’s daughter and the family dog, Oscar, were both found unharmed in the car by responding officers.
‘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 shooting occurred on the 1500 block of Melon Street, a narrow one-way street lined with newly constructed townhouses in the Spring Garden neighborhood.
Said one neighbor to ABC6: ‘By the time we ran up to him, people were bandaging him, holding him… and right in the head, right in the face, there was a pool of blood.’
Grandzol was transported to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9.42pm.
Family members have created a GoFundMe page to help Grandzol’s wife and children.
Gerard Grandzol (pictured with his wife) was fatally shot around 8pm on Thursday, just after he parked his SUV on the one-way street outside their home in Philadelphia
The family dog was also in the back seat of the SUV during the senseless shooting. The young girl and dog were both unharmed
The suspect in the shooting has been described as a black male in his teens or early 20s wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and tan colored pants.
Some witnesses described two suspects, both in dark hooded sweatshirts, fleeing from the scene, police said.
Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance video from the area in an attempt to identify the suspects.
Neighbor Ye Wan told the Inquirer that she saw Grandzol nearly every morning walking with his dog and daughter on the block.
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
‘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.’
Anyone with information about the suspects is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215.686.TIPS.