Officer’s stepson shot dead in West Philadelphia

The slaying of the 18-year-old stepson of a Philadelphia police officer early Thursday may have started as a robbery, investigators said.

Andre Strum was shot several times on the 6600 block of Leeds Street in Overbrook about 3:15 a.m. Thursday, police said. Strum, who lived in the area, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterward.

No one has been charged in the killing, but within hours of the shooting, police raided a nearby house and took a man into custody. Investigators are questioning several witnesses in the case. Police sources said that Strum was apparently targeted at random.

Police declined to identify Strum's stepfather. Strum's family could not be reached for comment.   - Allison Steele