PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man has admitted to fatally shooting another man between the eyes, trying to dismember him, and setting a Jeep on fire in a South Philadelphia parking lot in January 2020, all over a botched roofing job.
Luis Cruz pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, arson, abuse of corpse, and related offenses. He admitted that he shot and killed Joslyn Morgan, 43, as the victim kneeled before him.
Cruz then tried to cover his tracks by first attempting to dismember Morgan. When he failed, Cruz threw Morgan in the trunk of his Jeep, drove to the Toys R Us parking lot along East Oregon Avenue near South Front Street, and set the vehicle on fire.
Detectives linked Cruz to the grisly murder through surveillance video and cell phone records.
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The victim’s best friend helped identify Cruz as the contractor who worked for him. The victim’s wife said Cruz paid condolences to their family right after the murder, and then cut ties.
Prosecutors believe Cruz had severe money problems, and when Morgan said he messed up a roofing job and wanted to stop working with him, that’s when Cruz killed him.
Cruz is set to be sentenced in July.
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