PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An off-duty firefighter was killed inside a Northeast Philadelphia home early Wednesday morning. One person is in police custody.
Police said the 56-year-old man, who was an active-duty Philadelphia firefighter, was found dead inside a home in Holmesburg, located on Shelmire Avenue near Torresdale Avenue. Medics pronounced him dead on the scene around 4:15 a.m.
Police said a 27-year-old suspect is in custody but has not been charged.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said some type of fight happened inside the residence, but the cause of death has not been determined.
“It was not a gunshot or anything like that,” he said. “It was just a physical assault — could have been a strangulation. We’re not sure until the medical examiner tells us.”
Throughout the morning, investigators went in and out of the home and spoke with distraught family members. Someone cried out, “My dad, my dad,” as family members embraced.
The Philadelphia Fire Department said it is “heartbroken over the death of one of our members.”
Homicide detectives are leading the investigation.