January 21, 2016
Philadelphia Police /for PhillyVoice
The Philadelphia Police have released this drawng of the individual that law enforcement officials believe was responsible for the Dec. 16, 2015, murder of a 34-year-old man in the West Philly's Cedar Park neighborhood.
Thanks to employees and members of the municipal workers union, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has increased the reward for information leading to the man responsible for the Dec. 16 homicide of a four-year veteran parking enforcement officer.
On Thursday, representatives from the PPA, Citizens Crime Commission and the AFSCME union announced they have raised $12,500 for a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the man who killed Mark Marshall, 34.
The new funds will be added to $20,000 being offered by the Mayor's Office, raising the reward total to $32,500.
On Thursday, Vince Fenerty, executive director of the PPA, said Marshall, a single-father of two children, was out walking his two chihuahuas along the 4600 block of Kingsessing Avenue in West Philly at about 7:45 p.m. when he was shot by a man who police described as 20 to 30 years old and between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build and a beard. He was wearing a light-colored, hooded sweatshirt and an orange wool hat at the time of the shooting, police said.
Finery said Marshall was killed about a block from his home as a result of an argument.
"He walked his dogs and someone came up and emptied a handgun into him," Fenerty said. "It was a brutal, execution-type murder."
Marshall was declared dead at Presbyterian Hospital, police said after the shooting.
The shooter stepped out of the passenger side of an older-model Dodge/Chrysler minivan, possibly silver in color, near the corner of 47th Street and Chester Avenue, police said, where he got into an argument with Marshall.
The Philadelphia Police have said that the wanted individual stepped out of this van before the shooting. 
Philadelphia Police /for PhillyVoice
As Marshall continued to walk his dogs, police said, the wanted individual followed him and, shortly thereafter, shot him several times.
Frank Halbherr, president of the local chapter of the municipal workers union, said he knew Marshall well. Marshall wasn't the type to get into arguments and had a level head when dealing with issues on the street. He also said that Marshall planned to become a Philadelphia Police Officer and had taken a test in hopes of joining the police academy before he was killed.
"He cared for people," Halbherr said, "and he wanted to serve the community that he was murdered in."
John Apeldorn, of the Citizens Crime Commission, believes the early evening hour when the shooting occurred could mean that there is someone out there who may have witnessed the crime. He hopes anyone who might know something will come forward and help bring Marshall's murderer to justice.
"Somebody knows something," said Apeldorn. "Somebody had to see something."
Police also warned the public that if you see this suspect do not approach, contact 911 immediately. To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847. You can also submit a tip anonymously here.
