John Hightower, a 24-year-old Black man from the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia who lived on Griscom Street, was killed during a robbery on the night of Saturday, August 8, 2009. He had been walking with two companions in West Philadelphia near the intersection of Redfield and Master Streets when two men approached. One assailant was armed with a sawed-off shotgun.

After taking cash, cigarettes, and a cell phone from the group, one of the assailants shot John once in the face. The wound was instantly fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:10 p.m. The two men fled and no arrests have been made; the murder remains open and unsolved.

If anyone remembers that night or has information about the robbery and the two men seen near Redfield and Master Streets, please come forward.