Who was Christine Lugo? Philadelphia Dunkin' Donuts manager, 41, shot dead during robbery
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: An armed robber fatally shot the manager of a Dunkin' Donuts store in Philadelphia early on Saturday morning, June 5. Christine Lugo, 41, a mother of two, was about to open the donut store when the shooter barged in and demanded money, according to police.
This tragic case comes as shootings have been on the rise in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the scene of a shooting on March 29 when a gunman killed a man in a mall food court. In February, a shooter opened fire near a subway station, injuring eight. In October 2020, Philadelphia cops sparked massive BLM protests after shooting a Black man ‘several times’.
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RIP 40 year old Christine Lugo, who was killed during an armed robbery at the Dunkin on 5th and Lehigh Saturday morning. Police say she was opening the store when the suspect demanded she handed over money. When he did, he shot her @6abc pic.twitter.com/iqcBsqokOU
— Beccah Hendrickson (@Beccah6abc) June 6, 2021
Earlier in April, Joe Biden condemned gun violence, announcing a series of executive actions and legislative proposals. "We need to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country. There’s no reason somebody needs a weapon of war with 100 rounds in a magazine. None," he said in an announcement at the Rose Garden on April 8.
Who was Christine Lugo?
Christine Lugo, 41, was a mother, grandmother and daughter. She lived on her own in Philadelphia. "My mom's goal was to get home. To get home to Massachusetts to me, my brother, her two grandchildren. And this is not how I planned to bring my mom home," Lugo's daughter Frances Rodriguez told ABC. My mom was a beautiful human being. She cared about everybody. My mom believed in second chances, she believed in third chances," Rodriguez added. "This didn't have to happen. It didn't," Lugo's son Christian said. "It warms my heart and I know it warms my sister's heart that she affected so many people because she didn't have no other family out here. But at least she wasn't alone," he added.
When her children received the news, they traveled to Philadelphia. Candles, teddy bears and notes had been placed throughout the store by their mother's coworkers during a vigil. Lugo's children said that she loved her job and they want justice for their mother. "She'd be like, 'It's not that bad, I have my coworkers. I have my job.' And at that same job, my mom was taken from us," said Rodriguez. “She was a special person,” former co-worker Gilberto Melendez told WPVI. “It’s crazy that somebody can just come and take somebody’s life like it’s nothing,” said Melendez.
Bus across the street announcing a $20k reward for INFO on Christine Lugo’s killing. pic.twitter.com/T1U72Sw0H5
— Beccah Hendrickson (@Beccah6abc) June 6, 2021
What happened to Christine Lugo?
The incident occurred around 5.30am on June 5 in the 500 block of W Lehigh Avenue. Lugo, 41, was about to open the shop when she was confronted by an armed man who demanded cash. Compelled, Lugo handed over the money from an inside office before the man shot her in the head. She died on the spot. The killer is still on the loose.
A Black man in his late 30s to early 40s with a mustache, goatee and a medium-to-stocky build is the suspect police are looking for. He was dressed in a blue zip-up hooded sweatshirt, grey cargo sweatpants, light grey New Balance footwear, a blue Covid-19 mask, and an analog watch on his right wrist.
“All of us at Dunkin’ are saddened to learn of the death of a restaurant manager, and our thoughts go out to her family and friends," Dunkin' Donuts told WPVI. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person involved. Dunkin' is proposing to offer a $40,000 prize to anyone who can provide information about the shooting to Philadelphia police.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the police at 215-686-TIPS.