Gunman kills dad of four in front of family

Police are looking for a gunman who shot and killed a father of four in front of his family as he parked their car outside their home in Frankford late last night.

Richard Pearson, 40, and his family were returning from dinner before 11:30 p.m. when the killer walked up and fired on the 1100 block of Overington Street, hitting the victim in the chest.

The gunman fled and other family members were not harmed.

Medics pronounced Pearson dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives are seeking a motive.

Neighbor Walter Novick, 78, said Pearson and his family had recently moved to the tree-lined block of rowhomes.

Novick said he and his wife Eleanor were getting ready for bed when she heard two louds noises and knew right away it was not thunder.

"My wife heard, bang, bang," said Novick.

He said he looked out the window and saw the victim's oldest child, a son in his late teens, pulling his mother away from the car, but nothing else.

"I can't believe it," Novick said. "Why should this be happening?"

Novick said the victim "seemed to be nice enough."

"He's always been courteous to me, not that we passed the time of day alot," he said.