Philadelphia-based journalist Josh Kruger was killed in his home on Monday.
Kruger, who wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Citizen, was shot seven-times at his residence around 1:30 a.m., according to 6 ABC.
The late journalist frequently mocked and argued with critics expressing concern over rising crime in Philadelphia.
“Look, it’s that lawless land of liberals in Philly where shootings are…dropping to levels not seen in years,” read a July post by Kruger commenting on a reduction in deaths by shooting in the city.
Breaking: Leftist journalist and activist Josh Kruger @JoshKrugerPHL has been tragically shot dead at his Philadelphia home. Kruger has long downplayed gun violence in his city and publicly chastised others who spoke about it. pic.twitter.com/pcl5c4Z1Y8
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) October 2, 2023
In a 2021 post, Kruger criticized suggestions that Philadelphians were more likely to be shot and killed rather than dying from COVID-19 complications.
“Some idiot just said you’re more likely to get shot and killed than die of COVID in Philly to make some insensitive rhetorical point for ‘his side,'” Kruger said. “Folks, four times as many Philadelphians have died of COVID than gun shots this year.”
“I understand math is hard but do better,” he added.
In a July post, Kruger threw support behind Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
“Just because Larry Krasner keeps winning in landslides doesn’t mean Philly is a heap of cinders and ashes no matter how much people say,” Kruger said. “Like the rest of the country, we are dealing with upticks in crime.”
X users also noted a recent ominous interaction between Kruger and Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams.
In a 2020 post, Adams, a critic of President Joe Biden, suggested if then-Democratic candidate Biden won the presidency, “there’s a good chance you will be dead within the year.”
On Saturday, Kruger quoted Adams’ 2020 post saying, “The Dilbert dude is like Nostradamus. Look at this prediction from 2020. Wow. Eerie.”
Kruger was killed in his Philadelphia home two days later.
The Dilbert dude is like Nostradamus. Look at this prediction from 2020. Wow. Eerie. https://t.co/0kffBpbQu7
— Josh Kruger (@JoshKrugerPHL) September 30, 2023
Two weeks before his death, Kruger reportedly made a Facebook post about someone showing up to his house looking for his boyfriend. The person reportedly referred to themself as “Lady Diabla, the She-Devil of the Streets.”
“About two weeks ago, [Josh] Kruger wrote on Facebook that someone came to his house searching for their boyfriend — ‘a man I’ve never met once in my entire life.’ The person called themselves ‘Lady Diabla, the She-Devil of the Streets’ and threatened him, he wrote.” https://t.co/Oc43mIWGdH
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 2, 2023
The LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee released a statement following Kruger’s death referring to him as a “comrade” who “never stopped advocating for queer Philadelphians living on the margins of society,” per 6 ABC.
“His struggles mirrored so many of ours – from community rejection, to homelessness, to addiction, to living with HIV, to poverty – and his recovery, survival, and successes showed what’s possible when politicians and elected leaders reject bigotry and work affirmatively to uplift all people,” the Committee wrote.
