Killing caught on tape, police say

Police hope images captured on a surveillance video camera will help identify the gunman who fatally shot a man at the Variety Store at 57th and Arch Streets in West Philadelphia on Jan 10.

Gregory Jackson, 26, who lived near the homicide scene and was a frequent customer at the store, got into a confrontation with a man about 8:30 p.m. and was shot, police said.

The suspect, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap, is seen on the surveillance tape for several minutes outside the store, arguing with the victim and taking off. Police held a news conference today to display an edited version of the video that censored the actual shooting.

"We would like the public's help in identifying the individual in the video," said Chief of Detectives Keith Sadler. "We don't know what they were arguing about, but they were arguing for several minutes."

During the course of the argument, there were numerous people going in and out of the store. Sadler said the video shows that the shooting happened seconds after a group of young people left the store.

"This homicide was a cowardly murder," Sadler said, adding that, "the decedent was unarmed; he was shot by the defendant."

Police ask anyone who can identify the gunman to call homicide detectives at 215-686-3334, 3335 or 3336.