US father killed by carjackers while trying to protect two-year-old daughter

Two brothers suspected of murdering man in front of his daughter

Staff writerNews Corp Australia Network
A US father is being hailed as a hero after sacrificing himself for his two-year-old daughter during an attempted carjacking.

More than $300,000 has been raised on GoFund Me for the family of Gerard Grandzol, 38, who was gunned down in cold blood in front of his daughter a week ago in Philadelphia.

Mr Grandzol, 38, took his toddler and dog on a family outing that included playing with a frisbee on September 8, according to Fox News.

When he returned home in the evening, he was confronted by two men who demanded his wallet.

They also wanted to take his car but, according to police, Mr Grandzol insisted on taking his two-year-old daughter out of it before giving the thieves the keys.

That is when one of them shot the father-of-two twice in the head as the little girl watched, according to published reports. He died later that night at Hahnemann University Hospital.


US dad Gerard Grandzol refused to give up his keys because his daughter was still in the car. Picture: GoFund MeSource:Supplied
On Saturday, police arrested Maurice Roberts, 21, of Philadelphia, and his 16-year-old brother, who allegedly shot Mr Grandzol.

“They wanted the car; he wouldn’t give up the car. And they shot him for it,” Homicide Capt. John Ryan was quoted as saying by the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia.

The two brothers evidently were determined to rob someone, and Mr Grandzol became their target, police said.

Ryan told reporters at a briefing that the weapon used in the murder was a 9-mm. handgun. The suspects were well-known to police because of prior arrests, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.


Police have arrested Maurice Roberts over the alleged shooting. Picture: Philadelphia PoliceSource:Supplied
Mr Grandzol was active in his community. His involvement included being a board member of the Francisville Neighborhood Development Corp.

Just six weeks ago, he became a father again, and reported the birth of his second daughter on social media.

“This is just not fair that this is how he died,” the victim’s widow, Kristin Grandzol, told KYW Newsradio.

“He was just the best father to our two girls that you could even imagine,” she added. “He was welcoming to everyone in the neighbourhood. Everybody loved him and he was just the best.”

“Those two gunshots just destroyed my life and my two daughters don’t have a father now. I have a six-week-old daughter and a two-and-a-half year-old who saw the whole thing and I don’t know if she’ll ever be right.”