Family: Victim in Yeadon killing was a hardworking man

YEADON, Pa. (WPVI) -- The family of a delivery driver who was shot and killed in Yeadon, Delaware County early Tuesday morning has reached out to Action News.

In a statement, his family says, "Tom Childs was a hardworking man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who was loved by all who came in contact with him."

Late Tuesday, authorities recovered his cell phone and other items at the Fernwood Cemetery in nearby Lansdowne.

"Additionally we've received some more information later on this afternoon that I cannot release, but the leads are good," Yeadon Police Chief Don Molineux said.

It happened around 3:30 a.m. at a Ridgeway Industries loading dock, located inside an industrial complex.

That's where the driver, 63-year-old Thomas Childs of Aston, Pa., was confronted by a gunman in an apparent robbery attempt.

Sources tell Action News the driver was shot twice in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

We're told he had loaded his truck on Monday night and was getting an early start to beat the traffic for a delivery to New York.

A delivery driver for another company passed by the scene and saw the suspect reaching into a pocket. Fearing he had a gun, the other driver sped off and called police.

When he came back, sources say, he saw the victim's legs on the ground next to his truck. Also, sources say, the victim still had his wallet in his pocket.

"We believe he got less than $30 in cash and took this gentleman's life and killed him for that amount of money," Molineux said.

Earlier Tueday, police released a sketch of the suspect.

He is described as a light skinned black man in his early 20's with a light mustache. He stands 5'4" to 5'6" tall and weighs about 180 lbs. He was wearing a gray hoodie at the time.

Yeadon mayor Ronah Hepkins calls the killing senseless.

"He was cold-bloodedly executed at point blank range," Hepkins said.

The property manager said this is normally a safe location with only minor crimes, such as vandalism. He also said the area is busy, day and night, with trucks going back and forth.

The victim's boss said workers are devastated by such a senseless loss.

"It's a senseless situation, I don't think he even had any money on him," said Brad Daggy of Ridgeway Industries. "We don't understand it, except that it was a senseless murder."

Daggy said he hired Childs about 15 years ago to deliver his company's cleaning products.

He says Tom was a family man with a proud work ethic.

"Worked hard, very loyal, showed up early in the morning and got his own deliveries ready," Daggy said. "A nice guy."

Child's family statement says in closing, "We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy and request that members of the media will respect our privacy during this trying time."