A British illegal immigrant suspected of being a member of a ‘traveling conman fraud group’ was shot dead by an elderly Vietnam veteran whose home he was working on, cops say.
Salis Hanrahan, 20, was killed inside 75-year-old George Barr’s home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last Wednesday.
Hanrahan, a member of the Irish traveler community who was from Essex, England, was reportedly working on Barr’s home as part of a construction team when authorities said Barr shot him.
Police said Hanrahan managed to make it out of the home and collapsed on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his chest, he died not long after.
Government officials confirmed to the Daily Mail on Wednesday that Hanrahan was in the country illegally and entered after being denied a visa.
Hanrahan was denied after officials determined he was affiliated with what they described as ‘The Traveling Conman Fraud Group’, a statement said. It is unclear where and when Hanrahan entered the United States.
Members of the ‘Traveling Conman Fraud Group,’ which has been designated as an organized crime gang by the FBI, is comprised of British and Irish scammers who overcharge victims for building work which they then fail to complete.
Salis Hanrahan, pictured here with his wife Roseann, died last Wednesday after being shot inside a home in Philadelphia
Hanrahan was working with a construction crew who said they heard a commotion, Hanrahan then walked out of the home and collapsed on the sidewalk
Investigators have offered no further details of Hanrahan’s alleged links to organized crime or if they suspect him of targeting Barr.
He leaves behind his wife Roseann and their one-year-old daughter. Roseann posted an image of him to social media saying: ‘My beautiful husband I love you so much.’
Police said last week that contractors were out back putting siding on the home shortly after 2pm when a shot was fired from inside the home.
Philadelphia police Captain James Kimrey told reporters: ‘They heard arguments or some kind of commotion inside and then they found the boss outside.’
Barr’s neighbor Erin Kelly told NBC Philadelphia: ‘He’s always friendly. Every time I’ve encountered him.
‘It’s just crazy that it happened here. It’s always quiet here, so for something to happen like this, it just shocked us all.’
Others told the outlet that he was a retired firefighter, a Vietnam veteran and ran an unofficial neighborhood watch.
Barr was arrested and charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.
According to court filings seen by the Daily Mail, Barr was arraigned last Friday and is next due back in court later this month
Hanrahan is part of the traveler community and originally hails from Essex, in the east of England
Police said last week that contractors were out back putting siding on the home shortly after 2pm when a shot was fired from inside the home
According to court filings seen by the Daily Mail, he was arraigned last Friday and is next due back in court later this month. It is unclear if he has entered a plea.
A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said: ‘Salis Hanrahan was an illegal alien from the United Kingdom.
‘He entered the country illegally on an unknown date and location and was denied Electronic System for Travel Authorization as he was determined to have affiliation with “The Traveling Conman Fraud Group,” a transnational criminal organization. ICE and CBP have never encountered this individual.’
The Daily Mail contacted Philadelphia Police for an update on their investigation and The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK.