Father Hoping For New Leads In His Daughter's Fatal Shooting In Philadelphia
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- One year after a woman was killed during a purse-snatching on the streets of Philadelphia, the suspect is still on the run.
The incident was captured on surveillance video.
Amber Long, 26, was out celebrating her birthday with her mother. They bought new purses. Then, two men on the street snatched the purses and shot and killed Amber.
They've never been caught, and now Amber's father, who lives here in Pittsburgh, has sought the help of a private investigator.
"This has been horrifying. My whole entire life has changed. She was my only daughter. She will be my only daughter," said Amber's dad, Troy Long.
He is a chef at the Rivers Club downtown. Amber's death is something he'll never get over.
"It's just been very devastating. Every day I see her picture at home; I've got her ashes at home," he says.
"He spins and shoots her right through the heart in front of the mother," says Bob Cresson, of Empire Investigation. "Just like that, ended a life at 26-years-old."
When Cresson, Pittsburgh private investigator, heard about the unsolved murder, he launched the website, Private Eyes for Your Private Lives. He's hoping social media can help bring the killers to justice.
"Trying to get people to pass this around," he says. "Instead of just passing around jokes or pictures on Facebook, if they'd help us, we'd really appreciate it."
For now, there aren't many strong leads. There's some DNA on one of the purses. Also, they have video of the getaway car, which appears to be a rental from New York City.
Troy Long is hoping someone, somewhere will know who killed his daughter.
"If you know anything about these people, please call, help," he says.
There's a $30,000 reward being offered in the case.
Amber was an artist. They are auctioning off her work and using the proceeds for a group known as Handbags for Peace, which teaches women how to defend themselves.
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