On a September evening in 2008, a trip to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Philadelphia ended in tragedy for 24-year-old Matthew B. Novak, a Caucasian male from Mullica Hill, New Jersey. The night took a turn when the car he and his friends were in would not start near 6th and Green Streets. In an attempt to find help, Novak flagged down a passing blue Chevrolet Impala with New Jersey license plates.
Inside the vehicle were three men who seemingly offered assistance.
Novak informed his friends that he was going with the men to get jumper cables. He got into their car, which then drove away. However, the journey was short and ended in violence. At the intersection of 13th and Fairmount Avenues, as Novak was exiting the vehicle, he was shot in the hip by one of the occupants. The suspects then fled the scene, leaving Novak gravely wounded. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on September 28, 2008.
The motive for the shooting remains a mystery to investigators and Novak's grieving family. When he was taken to the hospital, all of his personal belongings were still in his possession, suggesting that robbery was not the reason for the deadly encounter. The suspects have been described by witnesses as two to three Black males. Despite the circulation of surveillance footage of the suspects' vehicle, the case has grown cold over the years, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the homicide.
In the years following the senseless act of violence, Matthew Novak's family has tirelessly sought justice. They have worked to keep his memory alive and to bring his killers to justice by offering a substantial reward for any information that would lead to an arrest and conviction. The community has been urged to come forward with any details, no matter how insignificant they may seem, in the hope of finally solving this long-unresolved case.
