Lucas A. Booker, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 31, 2021, after returning to a residence on the 4900 block of Rorer Street in Philadelphia’s Feltonville section. It was just before 3:00 a.m. when police were called to the home for a shooting. Officers found Lucas inside, in the basement area of the residence, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Investigators later described the killing as an ambush.
Lucas had reportedly spent the night with family and friends before coming home. As he entered the residence, a man was waiting for him. The suspect approached him with a handgun and opened fire. Police said the attacker appeared to have been outside the location beforehand, waiting for Lucas to return, then fled after the shooting.
Lucas was rushed to the hospital, where he died that morning. Some reports identified the hospital as Albert Einstein Medical Center, while an early FOX 29 report said Temple University Hospital. Homicide detectives said he died from multiple gunshot wounds, though early reporting initially described him as having been shot once.
Police released surveillance-related information in the case and said they had video of the offender near the location, but investigators acknowledged the footage was not clear. The suspect was described as a tall, slim man with facial hair. Detectives said the motive was unknown, and they were still trying to understand why Lucas was targeted.
No arrests were reported in the immediate aftermath, and police said no weapon had been recovered. Later coverage still described the case as unsolved, with detectives asking the public for help identifying the person responsible. The Philadelphia Police Department continued to seek tips, emphasizing that even a small detail from someone in the community could help bring closure to Lucas Booker’s family.
