On December 17, 2021, 37-year-old Sameer Abdullah was shot and killed while working behind the counter at the Empire Smoke and Phone Store, 1418 Chester Pike in Crum Lynne, Ridley Township, Pennsylvania. Officers and first responders arrived about 1:30 p.m.; Abdullah had multiple close-range gunshot wounds to the upper body and died despite life-saving efforts. Authorities said the shooting was not believed to have been a robbery and that a clear motive had not been announced.

Ridley Township detectives and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division developed leads, obtained two search warrants and gathered evidence that investigators said linked 39-year-old Shawn Williams of the Sun Village section of Chester to the killing. Williams was taken into custody within days, interviewed after being advised of his rights, and confessed, then was arraigned on homicide charges. If anyone knew Abdullah, worked at or visited the store, or has information about that afternoon, please come forward.