Assem H. Hijazi, 55, described as being from Lebanon and of Middle Eastern/Arab background, was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon, March 2, 2025, in South Philadelphia. Police were called about 2:30 p.m. to Ritner Street near 20th Street beneath the I-95 overpass and found him in the driver’s seat of a silver BMW. He had been shot in the head, with early reports saying the wound was to the back of the head; medics pronounced him dead at about 2:50 p.m. No weapon was reported recovered in the initial account and police treated the death as a homicide, looking to nearby surveillance cameras for clues about who approached or entered the vehicle and what happened beforehand.

In the days after his death, a fundraiser organizer and other reporting described Hijazi as a longtime friend, a dedicated hairdresser at Adolf Biecker in Center City, husband to Nadia Hijazi, and a father of two sons; coworkers, clients, family, and friends were said to be grieving. The investigation remained open for weeks, and in April 2025 police reported the arrest of Andrew Wallenburg in connection with the killing; reporting described him as an accused suspect and did not provide a public motive, trial outcome, or conviction.

Why Hijazi was targeted and what connection, if any, investigators believe existed between him and the accused remain unclear. Does anyone have information about Hijazi, his routines in South Philadelphia, or sightings near Ritner Street on March 2?