Philadelphia Police had several people in custody for questioning Monday afternoon in the killing of a father and part-time limo driver who was shot and killed during a robbery in West Philadelphia Saturday night.

Mijael Rodriguez-Ramirez, 24, was found dead inside his 2007 silver Chrysler 300 Saturday night. The father of a 5-month-old girl had just started working for La Primera Car Inc. a week earlier.

On Monday, police planned a news conference to reveal more details in the killing as they continued to question several people about the case. Police named no suspects in the case.

The co-owner of a Primera Car Inc. told NBC10 the ordeal began when Rodriguez-Ramirez picked up two passengers on the 3200 block of 7th Street in North Philadelphia.

Rodriguez-Ramirez, who lived in Kensington but was originally from the Dominican Republic, dropped one passenger off in North Philly and then took the second to the 5400 block of Delancey Street in West Philly around 7:10 p.m.

Without warning, the second passenger pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking Rodriguez-Ramirez in the face, according to the company co-owner. The passenger then stole a cellphone as well as cash before fleeing the scene.

Police later said that possibly up to three people were in the limo at the time.

The co-owner said the company realized something was wrong when Rodriguez-Ramirez no longer responded to any calls and his GPS location remained the same. They then called police who responded to the scene.

Police found Rodriguez-Ramirez slumped over inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Medics pronounced him dead at 7:24 p.m.

The co-owner told NBC10 Rodriguez-Ramirez's girlfriend was in the passenger seat and witnessed the shooting but was not harmed. She was interviewed by detectives Saturday.

Rodriguez-Ramirez's family told NBC10 he first worked at a catering company after he moved to the United States. He got a second job working as a limo driver after his daughter was born.

"He was just trying to make a living," said his brother Tuesday Gonzalez. "He was trying to provide food for his wife and kids." 

Officials only released that one suspect in the case stands about 5-foot-10-inches tall and wore a black hoodie at the time of the attack. A $20,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

La Primera Car Inc. is based in North Philadelphia and is made up of about 90 drivers and vehicles, mostly Chrysler 300s and Lincoln Town cars.

Rodriguez-Ramirez's death marks the third homicide in Philadelphia in 2015.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter started the New Year by updating Philadelphia on a wide-range of subjects from the recent discovery of Shane Montgomery's body to the city's efforts against crime.

Nutter spoke shortly after noon from City Hall.

He discussed all sorts of issues then opened the floor for questions.

Part of his speech included looking back on firefighting and crime-fighting efforts in 2014 and discussing the emphasis on reducing deaths moving forward into 2015.

He also expressed condolences to the family of Shane Montgomery who was discovered in the Schuylkill River weeks after going missing while out in Manayunk, calling his death "an accident."

Bundle up -- and then bundle up even more because bitter temperatures are getting set to grip the region as we move into the first full week of the new year.

• SEVERE WEATHER CENTRAL

An "Alberta Clipper" -- a fast-moving storm that comes from Alberta, Canada -- is moving into our area bringing with it light snow, sleet and or rain in and around Philadelphia.

The snow will move into our region between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday starting west and then gradually moving east.

Clippers generally don’t produce much snow, and this one is no exception. We’re only expecting one to two inches of snow by the afternoon. However, temperatures will be below freezing which will cause snow to stick to the roads. The snow will continue through the early afternoon and then taper off before the evening commute. Drivers should be careful throughout the day as there will be slippery spots, especially on untreated roads.

After the snow leaves, the bitter cold temperatures will remain.

Tuesday's high is expected to hover around 29, with even colder temperatures for Wednesday.

Wednesday night into Thursday will be the coldest day of the week with a high of just 23 and wind chills making it feel like it's 10 below zero despite the sunny skies. 

We'll warm -- slightly -- as we head into the weekend with temps in the mid-30s.

In Philadelphia around 70 vehicles will be deployed to treat the roadways once the snow begins. Trash and recycling collections aren't expected to be impacted however and residents should place materials at their normal pickup site on their regularly scheduled day.

Philadelphia Police announced the arrest of a man who allegedly shot and killed a father and part-time limo driver during a robbery in West Philadelphia Saturday night. Alonzo Dilligard was arrested Monday and charged in connection with the death of 24-year-old Mijael Rodriguez-Ramirez.

But police say Dilligard didn't act alone.

"Another suspect -- a 21-year-old male is in questioning," said Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark in a news conference Monday afternoon. "Very early on we had names of the individuals and there is video out there..."

A third man has also been identified, but is still on the loose, police said. 

Rodriguez-Ramirez and his fiancée, who was a passenger in the car, picked up three people on the 3200 block of 7th Street in North Philadelphia, police said. Cab drivers for La Primera Car Inc., where Rodriguez-Ramirez worked, told NBC10 an alert had been sent out earlier that night warning drivers not to pick up a group of three men at that location.

"They were drunk," said Ramon Rodriguez, a La Primera driver. "I couldn't understand what they were saying. So I said, 'I can't take you.'"

Rodriguez-Ramirez was new to the job however and didn't recognize the alert. They dropped one passenger off in North Philly and then took the other two to the 5400 block of Delancey Street in West Philly around 7:10 p.m.

Without warning, one of the passengers, identified by police as Dilligard, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the man's fiancée.

"Give me all of your money or I'll kill her," Dilligard said, according to police.

Rodriguez-Ramirez gave the suspect $30, which was all the money he had in his pocket, according to investigators. As the suspects jumped out of the car, Dilligard allegedly opened fire, striking Rodriguez-Ramirez in the face. He then stole a cellphone before fleeing the scene, police said.

The co-owner of La Primera Car Inc. was alerted to trouble when Rodriquez-Ramirez's phone stopped working and his GPS didn't move from the West Philly location.

Police found Rodriguez-Ramirez slumped over inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Medics pronounced him dead at 7:24 p.m.

Rodriguez-Ramirez's family told NBC10 he first worked at a catering company after he moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic. He got a second job working as a limo driver after his daughter was born and had just started working at La Primera about a week before his death.

Weeks before his murder, Rodriguez-Ramirez had posted on his Facebook page, "live life to its fullest because tomorrow is not guaranteed."

Officials with La Primera told NBC10 they will install cameras in all of their vehicles starting Tuesday to make sure their drivers are safe.

A downed tree caused delays and cancellations on one of SEPTA’s regional rail lines.

Shuttle buses operated in place of train service between Link Belt and Doylestown stations on the Lansdale/Doylestown Regional Rail Line due to overhead wire problems caused by the downed tree.

Trains operated up to Link Belt Station where passengers boarded shuttle buses to complete their outbound trips to Doylestown.

Normal service will be restored Tuesday, according to SEPTA officials.

You can find more information on travel delays and cancellations on the SEPTA website.
 

A Delaware man was arrested over a year after he allegedly raped a teenage girl near a shopping center.

Tyrone Turcotte, 22, of Smyrna, Delaware was arrested Friday in connection with a rape that occurred in June of 2013.

On June 5, 2013 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., a 14-year-old girl was walking between the Smyrna Shopping Center to the George Wright Municipal Park in Smyrna when a man, later identified by investigators as Turcotte, approached her from behind and dragged her into a wooded area.

Turcotte then raped her before fleeing the scene, according to investigators.

The teen girl was treated for her injuries at the Kent General Hospital where her DNA was collected. The girl also gave officials a description of her attacker.

Investigators turned the sexual assault kit, which included the possile suspect's DNA, to the State of Delaware Forensics Science Laboratory for analysis. In February of 2014 investigators were notified the analysis belonged to a male and it was submitted to the FBI Combined DNA Index System Unit (CODIS).

In December of 2014 officials determined the submitted DNA profile matched the DNA profile of Turcotte. Officials then contacted the teen girl who told them Turcotte was arrested a few months prior for another sexual assault. After seeing his photo in online publications and newspapers, the girl recognized Turcotte as the same man who raped her, according to investigators.

Turcotte is charged with rape, kidnapping, strangulation, unlawful sexual contact and assault. He was remanded to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $160,000 cash bond pending a future court date.

The man accused of stealing $1,000 worth of breast pumps in early December has been caught and charged with theft.

Joseph Galucci, 34, of Jackson, New Jersey, is charged with attempted robbery. Police say he took the breast pumps from a Burlington Coat Factory in Brick Township, New Jersey.

Employees told investigators a man left the store without paying for three Media Freestyle Breast Pumps valued at $1,000.

Once outside the store, the man dumped the pumps — for an undisclosed reason — and fled on foot, possibly getting into a white SUV, said investigators.

After numerous tips on social media, police found the suspect, who is now in custody.

Police found a Philadelphia woman who had been missing for several days.

Margaret Brown, 69, was last seen at her home on the 700 block of South 55th Street Friday around 10 a.m. Brown suffers seizures and schizophrenia and requires medication.

Monday night, police announced Brown was found safe and in good condition.

Philadelphia Police are searching for a missing elderly man who may be in danger due to this week’s bitter cold temperatures throughout the region.

Aaron Snyder, 83, was reported missing Monday. He was last seen on the 17000 block of Delaire Landing though he resides on the 1000 block of Grant Avenue.

Snyder has recently shown signs of increased forgetfulness. He was last seen wearing a green jacket and blue jeans.

If you have any information on his whereabouts please call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153 or 911.
 

A fire broke out at a home in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

The blaze broke out Monday night at a home on the 5000 block of Penn Street.

Firefighters were eventually able to bring the flames under control. No injuries were reported.

Officials have not yet revealed the cause.

A new ordinance in Philadelphia requires pet owners to step up and keep their pets protected from winter's below-freezing weather conditions or face hefty fines.

When Philadelphia declares a code blue, code gray or code red advisory for extreme weather, pet owners now have no choice but to keep their furry friends sheltered or face fines up to $300.

“Keeping dogs safe and warm is a basic need,” Susan Cosby, executive director of the Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT). “Don’t risk fines by taking steps now to ensure your dog has protection from the elements.”

The new ordinance, introduced and supported by Congressman Kenyatta Johnson, relies on concerned neighbors to report animals left out in the cold by calling ACCT at 267-385-3800 or email fieldserviecs@ACCTPhilly.org.

ACCT recommends that pet owners who normally keep their pets outdoors start moving their pets inside, or into a suitable form of shelter, before the bitter cold kicks in. The legislation outlines several requirements for pet owners, including standards for acceptable pet housing during extreme weather.

Code blue conditions are expected this week with snow and temperatures that feel as low as 10 degrees on Wednesday. Code blue refers to temperatures below 20 degrees, code gray refers to precipitation accompanied by temperatures below 32 degrees and code red refers to forecasts of 95 degrees or higher for three consecutive days. During all three conditions, pet owners will be required to move their pets indoors.

Neglectful pet owners will be subject to a fine of no less than $150, according to the ordinance.

Pet owners who want more information or help with the new ordinance can contact fieldservices@ACCT.org for tips on how to make the transition indoors easier.

A complete list of tips for pet owners can be found at ACCTPhilly.org

The flu is about to make its biggest assault on the Philadelphia region this week if an influenza forecast is correct.

The number of people experiencing influenza-like symptoms in Philadelphia is predicted to hit a season-high this week, according to forecasting models put out by Columbia University’s Prediction of Infectious Diseases program.

By Friday, Philadelphia is forecast to see more than 22,600 flu-like cases for the week. Regionally, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are also expected to peak.

“We’re definitely in the midst of flu season. The timing is very classic,” said Dr. Neil Fishman, an infectious disease specialist and Associate Chief Medical Officer for Penn Medicine. Fishman is not involved in the Columbia forecasting group, but says the sudden increase is consistent with what Penn’s health system is seeing.

“We’re still on the sharp upslope with no signs that it’s plateaued yet,” he told NBC10 Monday.

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Its symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, coughing and a sore throat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. In people at high risk, it can be deadly.

Columbia’s infectious disease predictor takes cues from weather forecasting and has accurately predicted when the flu peaked in 70 percent of the United State during the 2012-2013 season, the school said.

The prediction tool estimates it will be within 25 percent of the actual peak numbers. There’s also up to a two week gap between official health department reporting about flu activity and the predicted number of cases.

Health officials in all three states say it’s impossible to predict when flu cases will hit the ceiling, but that activity overall is most widespread right now.

“We don’t believe we’ve peaked yet. We certainly expect more flu activity in the coming weeks. But its unpredictable,” Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman Holly Senior said.

“A typical peak for New Jersey lasts around 4 to 5 weeks,” New Jersey Department of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner said. “It's only been the last week or two that New Jersey has seen an increase in activity so this may be just the beginning and the height of the peak will in fact be in the next week or two but there is no way to tell for certain.”

In Delaware, there have been 632 confirmed influenza cases for the season — an 800 percent increase over the same time last year, officials said.

“Delaware is having a tough flu year and we are being very active,” state health spokeswoman Emily Knearl said. She added they are regularly offering flu vaccinations and advertising to remind people about the flu season.

Is this year different?

The Philadelphia forecast calls for a sharp peak followed by an equally-sharp decline in cases of Influenza A, the more severe type of the virus. Influenza B, the less severe, is expected to peak on Valentine's Day.

Fishman said that follows a more typical flu season and is similar to trends seen in 2012-2013 when the flu had a large, sudden impact.

“What usually happens is that Influenza A peaks and it declines over another between three to four weeks. As Influenza A declines, Influenza B peaks. It is generally a more mild illness and it usually happens more later in the winter,” Fishman said.

This year, so far, there have been a few complications in the battle against the virus.

One of the strains targeted in the flu shot has drifted, or missed the mark. More than half the samples tested by the did not match strains covered by the shot.

About half the flu strains Penn is seeing this year were found in South America during their most recent flu season, Fishman said. Their winter takes place during our summer.

The regular availability of Tamiflu, the most popular flu treatment to alleviate symptoms, also compounded the situation. Penn hasn’t gotten its full supply because of shortages and Fishman says he's heard anecdotal reports of pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions.

A spokeswoman for Genentech, the drug’s maker, said the company is expanding its supply to areas in the Northeast to meet the sudden increase in demand.

Doctors are also seeing a jump in the number of respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza, which have similar symptoms to the flu. This could give the perception the flu is more rampant this season.

So, what can you do?

Health officials and doctors all say it’s still important to get the flu shot, if you haven’t already. Despite not being as effective, Fishman said it can ward off Influenza B and lessen any flu symptoms if you are infected.

“What some people seem to forget is that about 30,000 to 40,000 people die from Influenza each year. It’s the leading cause of vaccine preventable death,” he said. “It can still prevent people from dying and getting severely sick.”

Practicing sickness etiquette is another way to stop the spread of illness. Experts say you should sneeze into your elbow, cough away from others and avoid going to work and school if you are showing symptoms.

This way secretions from your nose and mouth — the main way the virus is spread — won't become ticking time bombs for your co-workers and classmates.

“I know it’s hard to do. We all have children. We all have jobs. We know it’s hard to do, but it’s important,” Senior said.

And the most important thing: wash your hands.

“You should clean your hands a lot,” Fishman said. “The best thing you can do is carry around a little bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and clean your hands more often.”

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.