Jun 30, 2009 2:02 pm US/Eastern
Police: Northern Liberties Murders 'Well Planned'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Investigators released surveillance footage of several suspects moments before a double murder inside an upscale Northern Liberties apartment building.
CBS
Police are searching for several suspects in connection to a deadly double shooting in an upscale Northern Liberties apartment building Saturday evening.
The shooting happened at about 5:00 p.m. outside an apartment building in the recently opened Piazza at Schmidt's on Hancock Street.
On Monday, investigators released surveillance footage of the suspects entering the building moments before the murder.
One of the victims, 34-year-old Rian Thal, worked as a marketing manager for night clubs in the city.
Thal and a male, identified as Tim Gilmore of Ohio, were both shot multiple times during the incident.
According to investigators, the three gunmen, and a fourth who posed as a lookout, gained entry to the building and waited for Thal and Gilmore to return to her apartment.
As they returned, the gunmen surrounded the pair and shot them multiple times outside her apartment before fleeing.
"This was extremely organized, you have four guys, they're all on cell phones together, they're going up staircases. You have a lookout, he's alerting them when the two decedents are on their way up," Capt. James Clark explained.
Police said they found approximately $100,000 in cash and a large amount of cocaine in Thal's apartment. The suspects did not take any of the cash or drugs found in the apartment.
Investigators said they believe the double murder was drug-related.
"Obviously they were targeted, the two individuals, because of different illegal activities they were in to. The plan probably went wrong really quickly, having to shoot and kill both of them," Capt Clark explained.
The deadly shooting remains under investigation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WEB EXTRA: Surveillance Video
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