(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) A left-wing journalist and activist for the homeless tragically died after being shot and killed inside his Philadelphia home in what police officers categorized as a homicide-related incident.
Josh Kruger, 39, had been inside his home when an unknown assailant entered and opened fire, hitting the journalist multiple times and ultimately taking his life. His death comes after the journalist downplayed numerous warnings that gun violence was skyrocketing in Philadelphia.
Breaking: Leftist journalist and activist Josh Kruger @JoshKrugerPHL has been tragically shot dead at his Philadelphia home. Kruger has long downplayed gun violence in his city and publicly chastised others who spoke about it. pic.twitter.com/pcl5c4Z1Y8
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) October 2, 2023
The details of the alleged break-in remain uncertain, with detectives leading an investigation to determine how the perpetrator gained access to the residence.
“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” a detective said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We just don’t know yet.”
Kruger managed to storm out of his home before collapsing on the sidewalk. Just last August, he received a threat when someone threw a rock through his window.
Two weeks later, he took to Facebook to claim somebody had broken into his home allegedly looking for their boyfriend. The individual reportedly went by the name of “Lady Diabla, the She-Devil of the Streets.”
Journalist Andy Ngo lamented the death via Twitter and also underscored Kruger’s history of dismissing concerns about crime in the Pennsylvania-based city, which is led by Democratic politicians
In one post, dated July 20, Kruger sarcastically celebrated what he perceived as a decrease in crime. “Looks, it’s that lawless of liberals in Philly where shootings are…dropping to levels not seen in years.”
Look, it’s that lawless land of liberals in Philly where shootings are…dropping to levels not seen in years.
We are dependent on national trends, for better or worse. It’s unfair to blame local cops for rising crime, inaccurate to credit with drops: https://t.co/PkUA70joAC
— Josh Kruger (@JoshKrugerPHL) July 20, 2023
He also derided uncited statistics suggesting that Philadelphians were more likely to die from gun violence than COVID-19. “Folks, four times as many Philadelphians have died of COVID than gun shots this year,” he said on Aug. 14, 2021. “I understand math is hard but do better.”
Some idiot just said you’re more likely to get shot and killed than die of COVID in Philly to make some insensitive rhetorical point for “his side.” Folks, four times as many Philadelphians have died of COVID than gun shots this year. I understand math is hard but do better.
— Josh Kruger (@JoshKrugerPHL) August 14, 2021
In another undated tweet, Kruger dismissed claims that the city was in a state of ruin. “Bro speak for your block mine isn’t ‘ruined,’ the city isn’t ‘ruined,’’ he continued. “Like the rest of the country we are dealing with upticks in crime.”
Bro speak for your block mine isn’t “ruined,” the city isn’t “ruined,” and just because Larry Krasner keeps winning in landslides doesn’t mean Philly is a heap of cinders and ashes no matter how much people say. Like the rest of the country we are dealing with upticks in crime. https://t.co/TeSFAdxLz7
— Josh Kruger (@JoshKrugerPHL) July 5, 2023
