Feltonville fatal shooting makes no sense to survivors

Relatives of 19-year-old Jorge Roman-Medina call his fatal shooting Sunday in Feltonville a mystery.

His mother and fraternal twin brother were visiting their native Puerto Rico, so no one was home when Roman-Medina was shot several times down the street from where he lived on the 4800 block of North Mascher Street.

Police reported no arrests Tuesday.

Roman-Medina was getting ready for his second year at Community College of Philadelphia, relatives said. He and his twin, Eugenio, had graduated from Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School in 2011.

In 2009, he came to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico "to fulfill his life over here," said his sister, Maritza Fontanez, 32.

Along with attending school, he worked for a Malvern company cleaning offices, Fontanez said.

She described him as a "wonderful brother" who did not drink or do drugs and was a big fan of Philadelphia sports.

Fontanez said police told the family that an off-duty police officer returning home around 4 a.m. saw Roman-Medina talking to another person and thought nothing was unusual.

Shortly after he got home, he heard gunfire and looked outside to see people running, Fontanez said.

Relatives said they were not aware of any arguments or trouble that might have led someone to shoot him.

"He was fine. He was happy," said Betzy Cruz, 41, a cousin.

Roman-Medina was carrying only a key chain when he was killed, but it had a membership card to a fitness center, Fontanez said.

Police traced the card to a cousin who shared the membership with Roman-Medina and were soon able to identify him.

On Monday, his mother and brother returned to Philadelphia to arrange for his funeral.