Man shot and killed in front of Thriftway

and Gregory Montanaro A man was shot in the chest and killed in front of the University City Thriftway Supermarket at 43rd and Walnut streets at about 6:47 p.m. Tuesday, according to Philadelphia Police Homicide Detective Paul Musi. The man was pronounced dead upon arrival at 6:55 p.m. at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was taken there by University Police. Although the man has been identified, Musi said his name could not be released until his next of kin have been notified. So far, police have not found any weapons or suspects in the murder. And although no motive has been determined, he said that robbery has been ruled out. Musi added that the slain man was a "hack" -- an unlicensed taxi driver who often waits at supermarkets and drives customers home for a fee. The victim was seen arguing with two men before he was shot, Musi said. Musi said the first assailant is described as a young man, 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, with a medium build, wearing a black jacket, jeans and a goatee. The second assailant is described as a young male, 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, with a light complexion and facial hair. He was reported to be wearing sunglasses, a black jacket and a ski-cap. University students entering Thriftway after the homicide said they were disturbed by the level of crime in the areas surrounding campus. "You notice we're in a group of three," said Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts student Mike Kowbuz. A friend of his, Biology graduate student John Sullivan, said "normally we don't go here unless we're with two or three people." Kowbuz said that the supermarket is the "only place" near the University's campus to buy groceries, and that students are forced to shop there, even though it is in a high crime area. Other area residents were also upset about the murder. "We live right around the block and it's scary," said Amber Potter, who was shopping at Thriftway at the time of the shooting. "We shop at this market all the time. It's sad that you can't even walk around the block to go to the store by yourself at night."

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