MARYCLAIRE DALE
Mon, October 2, 2023
Josh Kruger, left, then the Communications Director, the Office of Homeless Services at City of Philadelphia, at a tent encampment in Philadelphia, on Jan. 6, 2020. The journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia's most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 police said.
(Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)More
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia's most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, police said.
Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Police believe the door to his Point Breeze home was unlocked or the shooter knew how to get in, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. No arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered, they said.
Authorities haven't spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing. His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.
Kruger handled social media for the mayor and communications for the Office of Homeless Services from about 2016 to 2021. He left city government to focus on writing projects for news outlets and progressive causes.
He wrote at various times for Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, earning awards for his poignant and often humorous style.
On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and "a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.“
In a statement Monday, District Attorney Larry Krasner praised Kruger's contributions to the city.
“As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness, ... Josh Kruger lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities — particularly unhoused people living with addiction,” Krasner said. “Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story.”
Philadelphia journalist shot dead by home invader
Holly Hales
Mon, October 2, 2023
Philadelphia journalist shot dead by home invader
A Philadelphia journalist has been shot and killed in a home invasion.
Josh Kruger, 39, died after he was shot multiple times by an armed home invador who opened fire just before 1.30 a.m on Monday, according to police.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in the city’s Point Breeze neighborhood after reports of gunshots and screams.
Mr Kruger was found collapsed in the street on the 2300 block of Watkins Street with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He was brought by ambulance to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center but died at 2.15am.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said no arrests have been made and any possible motive remains unclear.
“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” he told reporters.
“We just don’t know yet.”
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia's most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, police said.
Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Police believe the door to his Point Breeze home was unlocked or the shooter knew how to get in, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. No arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered, they said.
Authorities haven't spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing. His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.
Kruger handled social media for the mayor and communications for the Office of Homeless Services from about 2016 to 2021. He left city government to focus on writing projects for news outlets and progressive causes.
He wrote at various times for Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, earning awards for his poignant and often humorous style.
On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and "a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.“
In a statement Monday, District Attorney Larry Krasner praised Kruger's contributions to the city.
“As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness, ... Josh Kruger lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities — particularly unhoused people living with addiction,” Krasner said. “Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story.”
Philadelphia journalist shot dead by home invader
Holly Hales
Mon, October 2, 2023
Philadelphia journalist shot dead by home invader
A Philadelphia journalist has been shot and killed in a home invasion.
Josh Kruger, 39, died after he was shot multiple times by an armed home invador who opened fire just before 1.30 a.m on Monday, according to police.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in the city’s Point Breeze neighborhood after reports of gunshots and screams.
Mr Kruger was found collapsed in the street on the 2300 block of Watkins Street with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
He was brought by ambulance to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center but died at 2.15am.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said no arrests have been made and any possible motive remains unclear.
“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” he told reporters.
“We just don’t know yet.”
Josh Kruger was remembered for having 'shone bright in everything that he did’ (joshkruger.com)
Mr Kruger had worked for the city of Philadelphia for more than five years, primarily within communication and social media teams.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney paid tribute to him in an emotional statement.
“Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing,” Mr Kenney said.
“His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon.”
In addition to his communications work, Mr Kruger wrote freelance articles about issues impacting the city’s LGBT+ community.
Philadelphia journalist fatally shot in his home
Mirna Alsharif and Brittany Kubicko and George Solis
Mon, October 2, 2023
A Philadelphia journalist and community advocate was fatally shot inside his home overnight, according to police.
Police were notified of a shooting at Josh Kruger's home in the 2300 block of Watkins Street at 1:28 a.m. Monday.
Kruger, 39, sustained seven gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:13 a.m.
No arrests have been made, and a motive is still under investigation, police said.
Kruger was known in the Philadelphia community as a social justice advocate and a longtime journalist, writing for news outlets such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Citizen. He also worked for Mayor Jim Kenney's administration as a spokesperson for the Office of Homeless Services.
In a statement, Kenney said he was "shocked and saddened" by Kruger's death.
"Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing," Kenney said in a statement shared with NBC News on Monday. "His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon."
As a community advocate, Kruger focused on uplifting the community's most vulnerable, including those experiencing homelessness, addiction and members of the LGBTQ+ community, according to District Attorney Larry Krasner's office.
"As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness, it was encouraging to see Josh join the Kenney administration as a spokesperson for the Office of Homeless Services," Krasner said in a statement. "Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story."
"As with all homicides, we will be in close contact with the Philadelphia Police as they work to identify the person or persons responsible so that they can be held to account in a court of law," he said.
The investigation into Kruger's death is ongoing.
Philadelphia Journalist Who Shined Light on Marginalized Communities Is Fatally Shot in Home
Christine Pelisek
Mon, October 2, 2023
Josh Kruger was shot seven times in the chest and abdomen
Josh Kruger/XJosh Kruger
A Philadelphia journalist was fatally shot inside his home Sunday.
Police said Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times in the chest and abdomen around 1:30 a.m. inside his home on the 2300 block of Watkins Street in the Point Breeze neighborhood.
Kruger was transported to Presbyterian Hospital where he died at 2:13 a.m..
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said there were no signs of forced entry.
“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” he said, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. “We just don’t know yet.”
Vanore said that after he was shot, Kruger ran outside for help, according to the Inquirer.
No arrests have been made, police said. Police found no weapon at the scene.
On his website, Kruger described himself as a “writer and communications expert known for weaving his unique lived experience with homelessness, HIV, Philadelphia’s ‘street economy,’ trauma, and poverty throughout his poverty and writing.”
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According to the website, Kruger had previously worked as a spokesperson for City Hall before “returning to journalism in 2021.”
“His writing has spurred government into action and shed light on communities and issues sometimes overlooked by traditional media,” the website states.
He also was a "militant bicyclist, Anglo-Catholic Episcopalian and parishioner at St. Mark’s Church on Locust Street, and lives with his best friend, his senior cat with one tooth named Mason,” the website states.
In a statement, Mayor Jim Kenney said he was "shocked and saddened" by Kruger’s death. "He cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident in his public service and writing," Kenney said. "Our administration was fortunate to call him a colleague, and our prayers are with everyone who knew him."
District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement Monday that Kruger “lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities – particularly unhoused people living with addiction.”
“Many of us knew Josh Kruger as a comrade who never stopped advocating for queer Philadelphians living on the margins of society,” the District Attorney’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee said in a statement Monday. “His struggles mirrored so many of ours — from community rejection, to homelessness, to addiction, to living with HIV, to poverty — and his recovery, survival, and successes showed what’s possible when politicians and elected leaders reject bigotry and work affirmatively to uplift all people. Even while Josh worked for the Mayor, he never stopped speaking out against police violence, politicized attacks on trans and queer people, or the societal discarding of homeless and addicted Philadelphians.
Philadelphia journalist shot and killed in his home; no arrests made
MARK OSBORNE
Mon, October 2, 2023
Philadelphia journalist shot and killed in his home; no arrests made
Josh Kruger, a freelance journalist and former city employee, was shot and killed in his home early Monday, according to local officials.
Police responded to his home at about 1:30 a.m. and found Kruger shot seven times in the chest and abdomen. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Kruger, who lived in the city's Grays Ferry neighborhood, was currently working as a freelance reporter, but was previously employed by the Philadelphia City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly. He had recent freelance bylines in the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Citizen.
There have been no arrests in the shooting, police said. No weapon has been recovered.
"Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story," District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement. "As with all homicides, we will be in close contact with the Philadelphia Police as they work to identify the person or persons responsible so that they can be held to account in a court of law. I extend my deepest condolences to Josh’s loved ones and to all those mourning this loss."
Kruger was openly queer, according to the district attorney, and often wrote about LGBTQ+ topics, as well as drug abuse and homelessness.
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"Many of us knew Josh Kruger as a comrade who never stopped advocating for queer Philadelphians living on the margins of society," the district attorney's LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee added in a statement. "His struggles mirrored so many of ours -- from community rejection, to homelessness, to addiction, to living with HIV, to poverty -- and his recovery, survival, and successes showed what’s possible when politicians and elected leaders reject bigotry and work affirmatively to uplift all people."
Kruger also previously worked in communications for the city, first in the mayor's office and then for the Office of Homeless Services and Department of Health.
"Shocked and saddened by Josh Kruger’s death," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident in his public service and writing."
He added, "Our administration was fortunate to call him a colleague, and our prayers are with everyone who knew him."
On his website, Kruger wrote he was an avid cyclist and lived "with his best friend, his senior cat with one tooth named Mason."
ABC News' Matt Foster contributed to this report.
Philadelphia journalist shot and killed in his home; no arrests made originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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