This past Thursday, several hundred gathered together to honor the life and legacy of Penn State Senior, Billy Schmidt, who was murdered in Philadelphia on June 6th. We must always remember Billy and demand justice for this heinous act. Our streets must be made safe once again!

Penn State College Republicans Statement on the Tragic Murder of Billy Schmidt

The Penn State College Republicans join the rest of the Penn State community in mourning the loss of Billy Schmidt, a rising senior studying communications. We send our prayers and deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those affected by this sudden and heartbreaking tragedy. These senseless killings of young people with bright futures, such as Billy, Iryna Zarutska, Austin Metcalf, and countless others, continue to raise the question of when Democrat city leaders, like those in Philadelphia, will realize that their policies of "catch and release" and refusal to hold those responsible in the name of “racial justice” are making our communities more dangerous than ever. Their supposed "empathy" for violent criminals and non-Americans is coming at the expense of the American people they were elected and sworn to protect. Under Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, the city has repeatedly seen violent offenders arrested and then released while awaiting trial. This progressive approach undermines public safety and has likely cost the city countless more lives in pursuit of a radical leftist agenda. Compare that to President Trump’s leadership, under which a Democrat-run city like Washington, D.C., has become significantly safer, with homicides down 47%, robberies down 23%, and overall crime declining across the nation's capital over the last year. Billy’s life did not need to be lost. We do not have to live this way. All Penn Staters and Americans must stand with Billy’s family and support them through this difficult time. We hope our leaders are taking notes and hear our demand, along with Billy’s father, for the immediate punishment of those responsible. The lives of the Americans they are responsible for protecting are at stake. If you have any information that could assist in solving the case of Billy Schmidt, please contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS or tips@phillypolice.com. Additionally, if you are financially able, we encourage you to consider donating to the GoFundMe established to support Billy's family, linked below.