Police say Carmen Suero Jr., of Drexel Hill, Pa., was shot around 5:07 p.m. in the 300 block of North 63rd Street.
Action News has learned Suero was there for an AA meeting.
Police sources say Suero left his sedan idling unattended, and that's when at least two suspects got in and tried to steal it. The veteran confronted the suspects.
According to police, officers arrived on the scene to find Suero shot in the back. He was taken to Penn-Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
On Monday night, police announced the arrests of Nasir Brogdon and Nysiir Peoples, both 19 years old.
Police say the men are each being charged with murder, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, among other offenses.
"We haven't processed," said a relative of the victim, Karen Santone. "We haven't even started to grieve."
Relatives say Suero struggled with addiction for much of his life. But the veteran had been sober for the past two decades.
"His thing was meetings, and he did them everywhere. He spoke, he chaired them, he ran them. That was his life," said Santone.
They say he was committed to his sobriety and helping others.
"He was very much into the Lord. I guess he remembered where he came from in that aspect and tried to help the underdog, so to speak," said Santone.
For Suero's family, his brutal murder will be difficult to overcome. They call it a tragedy on all fronts.
"It breaks my heart. Not just for my brother-in-law, but that two babies are probably not going to see the light of day," said Santone. "People, we gotta do better by our kids."
Anyone with information can call or text Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online.