"This was a very well planned execution."
Days after a mother and newlywed was gunned down as she waited for a SEPTA bus, Philadelphia Police Capt. James Clark showed surveillance video in hopes of capturing Kim Jones' killer, who remained calm while pulling the trigger.
"Investigation reveals that Ms. Jones was standing at the bus stop waiting to go to work when an unknown offender walked up behind her and killed her," said Clark.
Round-the-clock police work turned up multiple video angles of Jones and her assailant in the moments before and after the attacker shot Jones in the back of the head, said Clark.
"The perpetrator was outside of the decedent's house for about an hour prior to the murder, in one of the breezeways — you can see the person's head keeping popping out, looking, waiting for her to come out," he said.
The first video shows Jones walking to the SEPTA bus northbound on 12th Street toward Jefferson Street Tuesday shortly after 9:15 a.m., said police.
A short time later, you see the suspect — dressed in all black and holding a duffel bag — walk toward Jones as she waited for the bus while listening to gospel music.
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Police didn't show video of the actual shooting, but they did show the shooter calmly fleeing after putting the gun back in the duffel bag.
Medics pronounced the 56-year-old woman dead at the scene, about two blocks from Temple University's campus. Despite having jewelry, her cellphone and her purse on her, Jones wasn't robbed, said police.
Jones left behind two grown children. Family said she had married just two weeks ago.
"She was a good person — she's college-educated, the mother of two sons and a hard worker," said nephew Steve Jones.
Video captured the suspect, still covered head to toe in black, boarding SEPTA’s Broad Street Line Subway at the Cecil B Moore stop shortly after the shooting, said police. The suspect can be seen going five stops north, getting off at Hunting Park and walking out the Bristol Street exit.
"(The suspect) was dressed so that you could not make out if it was a male, a female or the ethnicity or anything about the individual," said Clark. " ... (The suspect) made a point of not looking up at the video cameras — almost knew where the cameras were going to be — going down the subway and on the subway and made a point to never look up."
Family members said Jones often walked about one block to the corner where she died to grab the Route 23 bus to Center City, where she had worked for Turning Points for Children for the past decade.
"We are devastated by the news of Kim’s death," said Turning Points Chief Executive Officer Mike Vogel.
Clark described the "heartless predator" as standing about 5-feet, 10 inches to 6 feet, 1-inch tall with a stocky build. The suspect wore dark clothing, including an aviator hat with flaps on the side and fur lining, and white-colored Beats headphones.
"Out hope is that someone if they saw this individual Tuesday morning will contact us and tell us who he is," said Clark.
Police believed someone who knew Jones' routine targeted her. Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Jones will be laid to rest Tuesday with a viewing followed by funeral at the Church of the Advocate at 18th and Diamond streets starting at 8 a.m.
