Nick Flacco's Friends Allegedly 'Dared' Gunman To Pull Trigger, Philadelphia Police Say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police say a dare to open fire may have led to the murder of the son of a high-ranking Philadelphia police official. Nick Flacco was gunned down over the weekend at FDR Park.
Police say friends of the victim allegedly "dared" the suspect to pull the trigger.
The 20-year-old Penn State student is the son of Philadelphia Police Internal Affairs Chief Inspector Chris Flacco.
Police say Nick Flacco was home celebrating his birthday Friday. On Saturday, after the Phillies' big win, Flacco was tailgating with friends in FDR Park around 10 p.m. That's when a fight broke out and a woman threatened to "call her man."
The man came by, pulled out his gun and fired it into the air, but police say Flacco's friends encouraged him to shoot at them because they didn't believe the gun was real. At first, the man walked away, but the gunman later came back and fired at Flacco, leaving him for dead.
"I think this was just a matter of intoxication by alcohol, because who in their right mind would dare someone to shoot them," said Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith.
Smith added that they have interviewed several witnesses but still need the public's help in the case.
"We've interviewed several witnesses this far, but we know there are many, many persons in the park at the time and that's why, we think, it's so important to impress that upon the public," said Smith.
Investigators don't know much about the suspect other than he was wearing a black hoodie.
"All these murders are ridiculous and senseless. Whether we know the individuals or not, we see the pain in the faces of these families each and every day," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.
Police say a $35,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Police are hoping the woman who called the shooter turns herself in.
