Josh Kruger

Josh Kruger (August 21, 1984 – October 2, 2023) was an American journalist and advocate.[1] As a journalist, he wrote for, among others, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine,[2] the Philadelphia Citizen,[3] and the Philly Voice[4] about LGBT rights, addiction, AIDS, and homelessness.

Career

Kruger moved to Philadelphia in 2002 to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied political science and anthropology.[5] Following this, he worked in community development and local non-profits for five years.[5] He won the Society of Professional Journalists' award for newspaper commentary in Pennsylvania in 2014 and 2015.[6]

Kruger worked in Philadelphia's city government between 2016 and 2021, both as a content creator and social media manager for the mayor, and as a communications director for the Office of Homeless Services.[1][7] He left in 2021 to return to journalism.[8]

Personal life

Kruger had previously struggled with addiction and homelessness, and drew on those subjects in his writing and activism.[8] He was diagnosed as HIV-positive in his late 20s, and wrote about the need for accessible treatments for those with the condition.[5][9]

Death and legacy

On October 2, 2023, Kruger was shot seven times inside his home in South Philadelphia. He was subsequently rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the same day.[10] On October 6, police announced they had identified 19-year-old Robert Edmond Davis as a suspect in Kruger's death.[11]

Davis, according to his family, was in a drug-involved relationship with Kruger since Davis was 15 years old and Kruger was 35. Davis' family stated that he told them Kruger was threatening to post sexually explicit videos of him online.[12]

Multiple public officials memorialized him, including both of the state's U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey Jr., as well as District Attorney of Philadelphia Larry Krasner.[6][13][14]

References
  1. "Philadelphia journalist who advocated for homeless and LGBTQ+ communities shot and killed at home". AP News. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. "Josh Kruger - Author". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. "Josh Kruger". The Philadelphia Citizen. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. "Philly Commerce Department reeling from director's 'toxic' management style, staffers say". PhillyVoice. December 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  5. "Josh Kruger - Shares his story". BlogTalkRadio. January 14, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  6. Freeman, Danny; Sottile, Zoe (October 2, 2023). "Philadelphia journalist and advocate Josh Kruger shot and killed at home". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  7. "Josh Kruger: Police ID person of interest in murder of Philadelphia journalist". FOX 29 Philadelphia. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  8. Dougherty, Tom; Kuhn, Casey; Sanders, Josh (October 3, 2023). "Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger shot, killed inside Point Breeze neighborhood home". CBS Philadelphia. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. Kruger, Josh (June 26, 2023). "I Stopped Taking My HIV Pills". POZ. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. "Philadelphia police say they have a person of interest in journalist's fatal shooting". NBC. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  11. "Philadelphia journalist was 'just trying to help' teen suspected in his murder, police say". NBC News. October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  12. Rushing, Ellie (October 11, 2023). "Family of man wanted for killing Josh Kruger says the 19-year-old and the journalist shared sex and drugs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  13. Mather, Victor (October 2, 2023). "Philadelphia Journalist is Killed in His Home". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  14. Rinde, Meir (October 3, 2023). "Remembrances of slain Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger pour in from far and wide". WHYY-TV. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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