Just minutes into the new year, the celebratory sounds of fireworks in Philadelphia were tragically silenced by the city's first homicide of 2019. Anibal DeJesus, a 36-year-old Hispanic male, was found lying in the street on the 3200 block of Tampa Street in the Kensington neighborhood. It was approximately 12:09 a.m. on January 1, 2019, when police responded to a call of a person with a gun.
Upon arrival, officers discovered DeJesus unresponsive, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds
to his head, face, and chest. Paramedics were called to the scene, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead just two minutes later at 12:11 a.m. Anibal DeJesus, a resident of the 2800 block of North Mutter Street in the Fairhill section, became a somber statistic, marking a violent beginning to the year in a city already grappling with a high homicide rate.
The investigation into the murder of Anibal DeJesus is ongoing, and as of now, the case remains unsolved. The Philadelphia Police Department has offered a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with this tragic case. Detectives continue to urge anyone with information to come forward as they seek to bring justice for Anibal DeJesus and his family.
