US Air Force veteran, Richard Butler, shot and killed inside car in Philadelphia

A US Air Force veteran, described as the patriarch of his community, was gunned down while he sat inside his car as part of his everyday routine in West Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon.

Richard Butler, 88, was shot in the chest twice around 1:30 p.m. on the 100 block of North Dewey Street after he dropped his girlfriend off at home.

At the time he was struck down, Butler attempted to drive his white Hyundai Santa Fe away but the car came to rest on a sidewalk after knocking over a potted plant, according to NBC Philadelphia.

The veteran’s family says the suspect had been sitting inside a parked car at a nearby intersection for some time before Butler pulled onto the street.

The suspect jumped out of a silver sedan and ran up to Butler’s car and fired the shots, according to home surveillance footage obtained by 6ABC.

Butler had dinner plans with his girlfriend later in the day.

“Broad daylight, he was out doing his normal routine. Goes to the park everyday, stops at Wawa,” Butler’s great niece Minette Finn told the outlet. “In his car, defenseless. You waited for him. You waited for this man. This wasn’t a random act.”

Family members remembered Butler as the patriarch of not only his family but of the entire community who served in the Air Force and was a retired SEPTA driver.

“Pops. Dad. Uncle. Brother to everyone,” Finn said. “If you met him, you loved him. That’s all I’m going to say. Anyone in this neighborhood could tell you probably.”

Butler was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, located 3 miles away, where he was pronounced dead at 1:56 p.m.

The mourning family was left wondering how something could happen to a beloved man.

“If you get that answer to that question, you guys let us know. Because that’s what we want to know — why,” the grieving niece added.

“This man did nothing to anyone and he gave to everyone,” Finn told WCAU.

“You know my father never bothered nobody,” Butler’s son Orlando Butler told the outlet. “He’s just a retired military vet.”

Orlando Butler recalled his father, when he was younger, would take the kids in the neighborhood and bring them to Atlantic City and Wildwood to show them life outside of Philadelphia.

“He’s been an outstanding citizen in the community. Took care of all the kids from the block. For this to happen to my father, this is truly a sad situation.”

Police have yet to identify the suspected shooter or release information on any motive.