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AHS grad murdered in Philadelphia
Published Monday, June 16, 2008
PHILADELPHIA — An alleged botched robbery in Philadelphia resulted in the untimely death of a 23-year-old Austin High School graduate, who’d moved out east only a month before to teach math to disadvantaged students.
Beau Zabel — Eagle Scout, honor roll student, college graduate, idealist — was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck 1:30 a.m. Sunday while returning home from a shift at a Starbuck’s coffee shop.
“It was a 45-minute walk from his job to his apartment,” his ex-stepgrandfather Gerald Zabel said. “I heard he was about a block away from the apartment when it happened.”
According to the Star Tribune, witnesses saw the gunman run from the scene following the shooting, where Zabel was found with his wallet and pockets turned inside out.
As of Monday morning, a Philadelphia police spokesperson said say they’ve made no arrests.
Gerald Zabel said the young man was “one of ours” — a smart, kind person, with a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., following his 2003 graduation from Austin High School.
He left for Philadelphia May 1, Gerald Zabel said, for a teaching program targeting inner-city children. His Facebook profile said he’s been accepted to teach math through the Philadelphia Teaching Fellow program, and would be enrolling at Drexel University for a graduate degree in education.
Zabel is survived by a brother and sister; his mother, Lana Zamora of Austin; and father, Doug Kammeier of Iowa City, Iowa.
Gerald Zabel said Zamora left for Philadelphia after learning of the death. He expected her to return Wednesday and for funeral services to take place later this week.
Worlein Funeral Home of Austin will handle funeral arrangements.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Comments
Posted by DaveB (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How senseless. I pray that justice will be served.
Posted by SorryinPhilly (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was so sorry to hear about the death of this young man. I did not know him, but I moved here to Philly from Austin almost 40 years ago. When the news account mentioned that he was originally from my home town, I was deeply affected. Once again, the voilence of this city takes another promising life. This city and it's children have suffered a great loss. Someone with such a dedication and desire to teach could have brought so much to our schools.
My prayers are with his family and friends.
Karen M
Posted by hfieldnj (anonymous) on June 17, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family of Beau Zabel and to the citizens of Austin, MN. I live in NJ across the river from Philadelphia. Philadelphians and the citizens of the Delaware Valley are heartbroken about the senseless murder of your beloved Beau. He will not be forgotten. I hope that a scholarship fund will be established in Beau's name. I am so sad this happened.
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