Robert Allen Payne, a 31-year-old African American educator in the Chester-Upland School District, was found dead in his car on July 4, 2016. He was discovered in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle at Third and Kerlin streets in Chester, Pennsylvania, shortly before 6:45 p.m. Payne had been shot multiple times; an autopsy later recorded 23 entry wounds to his head and body. Investigators recovered thirteen casings at the busy intersection and concluded a high-powered assault rifle was used.

Payne was an expectant father and described as a respected English teacher. An 18-year-old woman he had arranged to meet found him and called 911; she initially cooperated with investigators but became uncooperative months later. Authorities have considered that he may have been lured to the location, though that theory has not been substantiated and there were no initial signs of a robbery. The Chester Police Department and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate; no arrests have been announced.

Did anyone in the area on July 4, 2016, see anything unusual near Third and Kerlin streets?