Police: Temple Student Shot Dead in Off-Campus Apartment
PPD has identified 21-year-old junior Daniel Duignam as the victim of Saturday night’s fatal shooting in North Philly.
Photo: Temple University.
Temple University officials have confirmed that one of their students was shot and killed by an unknown assailant in his off-campus apartment on Saturday night.
TU president Richard Englert penned a letter to the school community on Sunday in which he explained that 21-year-old junior Daniel Duignam was found dead at his home on the 1700 block of Diamond Street the night before. Philadelphia police say Duignam, a business major from the Lehigh Valley, was discovered with gunshot wounds to his stomach, right arm, and left cheek just after 9 p.m. Saturday.
Duignam was pronounced dead at the scene, which police say showed clear signs of a struggle. Oddly, Homicide Capt. Jack Ryan confirmed at a news conference on Monday morning that investigators found no evidence of forced entry into Duignam’s first-floor apartment, leading them to believe that he knew his killer. Ryan said it’s likely that Duignam even brought the suspect in himself. (Or suspects – PPD hasn’t ruled out the idea that several people could’ve been involved in the death).
“It’s a little jarring, I’m not going to lie,” third-floor neighbor Natalie Lepera told 6ABC. “I said hello when opening the door, coming and going, but that’s it. I never said more than two words to the kid.”
Ryan said Duignam’s place was ransacked after the slaying, and money was taken from the apartment. The victim was able to call 911 to alert PPD to the robbery in progress, reportedly telling the operator that he couldn’t breathe as his final words. No weapons were recovered from the scene and a motive has not yet been identified. The killer locked the door on his way out.
“On behalf of everyone at Temple, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Daniel’s family and friends at this tragic time. They are in the thoughts and prayers of us all,” Englert wrote.
The president’s note said Temple will beef up patrols in the areas surrounding campus in response to the crime. Duignam is the sixth student death at TU since September.
