Horrific moment suspect who shot and killed Air Force veteran, 88, in broad daylight in Philadelphia is shown as his perplexed family demand answers over why gunman 'waited' in his car before gunning down 'defenseless' elderly man

An Air Force veteran was gunned down in broad daylight in West Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon.

Richard Butler, 88, had just dropped his girlfriend off at home and was sitting in his car when the suspect approached him and fired two rounds into his chest.

Desperate to escape, Butler started driving his white Hyundai Santa Fe away, but he was unable to get far, crashing his car into a potted plant before coming to a halt on the sidewalk.

Butler's murder, which occurred around 1:30 pm, has left his family completely baffled.

The Air Force veteran, who was also a retired SEPTA driver, was a pillar of his community, and he was adored by family and neighborhood alike.

Butler was murdered in West Philadelphia

Richard Butler, 88, was an Air Force veteran and a retired SEPTA driver

The suspect fired two shots into Butler's chest at close range

'Pops. Dad. Uncle. Brother to everyone,' Butler's great-niece Minette Finn said. 'If you met him, you loved him. That's all I'm going to say. Anyone in this neighborhood could tell you probably.'

The victim's son Orlando said: 'He's been an outstanding citizen in the community. Took care of all the kids from the block.

'You know my father never bothered nobody. He's just a retired military vet.' 

Given his sterling reputation, Butler's murder doesn't make sense to his family, and they are now left wondering why someone would do such a terrible thing.

'If you get that answer to that question, you guys let us know,' his great-niece told 6ABC.

According to the victim's family, the suspect had been lurking inside a silver sedan at a nearby intersection for a period of time before Butler appeared. 

Home surveillance footage showed that when Butler pulled onto the street and stopped, the suspect got out of his car, ran over to Butler and fired the fatal shots.

Home security camera captured footage of suspect before they killed Butler

Butler was fond of dancing and was cherished by his entire community

The victim was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, only three miles away, but it was too late.

At 1:56 pm, Richard Butler, the beloved veteran, was declared dead. 

Despite his military background, Butler liked to let loose, and one of his greatest passions was dancing, and he was described by family as the life of the party.

He was also interested in the welfare of the young kids in his community.

Butler's son remembered a time when his father would bring the neighborhood kids to places like Atlantic City and Wildwood to give them a taste of life outside of Philadelphia. 

The police haven't identified the suspected shooter yet, nor have they announced a possible motive.

Until then, the family is left with unanswered questions, the chief among them being: why would someone do such a thing?

'This wasn't a random act,' Butler's great-niece said.