Crime Fighters 6abc: Matthew Thomas was shot in Philadelphia on Halloween before he could see his mother

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A mother whose son was shot dead in Philadelphia on Halloween two years ago is asking the public for help in finding his killer.

Joyce Ann Mayers said her son Matthew Thomas is interested in art and cooking.

“Nobody comes into the kitchen when he’s cooking because he loves cooking and everything is just spotless,” she said.

The 47-year-old wanted to cook dinner for his mother on October 31, 2022. When he didn’t come back from work, she became worried.

“It’s about 6:30, 7:00 p.m., it’s almost 8:00 p.m., it’s almost 9:00 p.m., so I texted Matthew that I was really worried,” Mayers recalled.

Shortly after 10 p.m. she received the call from the police that she feared most.

“Your son Matthew was killed this afternoon. He was shot,” she said.

At 5:35 p.m., police were called to a home in the 2500 block of Carroll Street in southwest Philadelphia, where Thomas was cleaning up.

Police found him lying next to a silver Dodge pickup truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials say.

“He was just kind and generous and compassionate and empathetic to everyone he met,” his mother recalled.

The City of Philadelphia is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

All you have to do is call the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS. All calls remain anonymous.

“There is a $20,000 reward, so please take the money. Use the money to help your family, but help my family, help my son, he needs justice,” Mayers said.