Philadelphia Journalist Is Killed in His Home

A freelance journalist was shot and killed at his home in South Philadelphia early Monday morning, the police said.

The journalist, Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times. The police said that no arrests had been made and that no weapon was found.

The police arrived at the scene about 1:30 a.m., and Mr. Kruger was pronounced dead at a hospital around 2:15.

Mr. Kruger had recently written articles for The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Citizen and BillyPenn.com., the news site of the local NPR and PBS affiliate WHYY. Recent topics included education, public art and L.G.B.T.Q. issues.

His website says he struggled with “homelessness, addiction, H.I.V., poverty, and trauma,” and used those experiences to inform his journalism.

He worked for the Philadelphia city government from 2016 to 2021, including as a spokesman for the Office of Homeless Services, before returning to journalism.

The police, responding to reports of gunshots, arrived to find Mr. Kruger in the street, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore told The Inquirer. The police believed that an intruder had entered his home and shot him and that Mr. Kruger then went outside seeking help before collapsing.

There were no signs of forced entry, Commissioner Vanore told The Inquirer. “Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open. We just don’t know yet.”