Crime Fighters: Mother urges witnesses to come forward in son's murder

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The mother of a man shot and killed in front of a crowd of people is urging any of those witnesses to come forward.

"He was fun loving, great laughter, great sense of humor," said Lisa Espinosa, mother.

Espinosa says her youngest son, 26-year-old Raymond Pantoja, was never shy about his feelings.

"For my kids he was the most lovable, the most affectionate," said Espinosa. "He didn't care to say, 'I love you,' to his brothers."

She says that sentiment makes the events on April 10 that much harder for her.

"They took one of my jewels, and they left an empty hole in my heart," said Espinosa.

Just before 3 a.m., Pantoja was leaving a nightclub at B Street and Alleghany Avenue in North Philadelphia when an altercation happened.

"One person came towards Raymond, the guy went to hit him. He went to lift his arm at him and Raymond punched him once. When Raymond went to like straighten up the guy, some guy in a hoodie just walked up and shot him in the chest point blank," said Espinosa.

Pantoja was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"There was a lot of witnesses, and more than four people videotaped," said Espinosa.

But police need more.

A reward of up to $20,000 will go to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

"This person is walking free on our streets and they can hurt your son, your daughter, your child," said Espinosa. "There is a murderer out there."

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.

Since her son's death, Espinosa has been working with local politicians on gun control legislation and pushing to get cases, like her son's, solved.

"Our community needs to get together and get empowered, and go against these individuals who are cold-blooded killers," said Espinosa.