By Allison Steele
The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — Police have arrested a man in the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia police officer’s 24-year-old son, a killing that had baffled detectives.
Rasheed Gey, 18, was charged Friday with the Feb. 6 killing of Dennis Gore Jr.
Police declined to comment on a motive, but said they believe Gey and Gore may have known each other. Gey lives on the 5400 block of Stewart Street in Overbrook, around the corner from where Gore was killed.
“There was no argument on the day of the shooting,” said Sgt. Bob Wilkins. “We can’t find a history of altercations between them.”
Another source familiar with the case said the two may have argued over a woman.
Gore, a father of two young children, had no criminal record. His father is a veteran officer assigned to South Philadelphia’s Third District.
Gore had just picked up lunch from a takeout store and was walking with his girlfriend near 55th and Hunter Streets when a man police believe was Gey ran up to him and opened fire. Gore was hit six times, including a shot to the heart, and died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Police initially had few clues, and said Gore seemed so unlikely a target that investigators believed his killing may have been a case of mistaken identity.
Last week, a task force assigned to the case returned to the neighborhood. Knocking on doors and talking to neighbors yielded four witnesses, several of whom were able to identify the alleged gunman by name, Wilkins said.
After police went to Gey’s home Friday morning and took him into custody, they spoke to Gore’s father.
“He thanked us,” Wilkins said. “There was some relief at the news.”
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