A gentle soul who greeted everyone with a warm smile now lies dead after a savage beating in his own home, and the two men last seen walking near the scene remain the only clear leads Philadelphia police have.
Amadou Thiam, a 50-year-old American Airlines flight attendant beloved for his kindness and impeccable style, was found naked and unresponsive in the backyard of his Federal Street rowhome Monday evening, November 17, after officers responded to a burglary call just before 7 p.m. He suffered devastating head and body trauma, clung to life for two days at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and passed away on Wednesday morning. The Medical Examiner has ruled his death a homicide, and detectives are working around the clock to identify the attackers.
Surveillance cameras captured two men walking together close to the crime scene around the time of the burglary. The first person wears a distinctive red Puma hoodie under a black jacket, paired with jeans and black sneakers with white soles, and carries a black shoulder bag featuring a red stripe. His companion has a shaved head, trimmed beard, and wears a gray coat with black pants. Police have released clear still images of both men and are urging anyone who recognizes them to come forward immediately.
What makes this case especially disturbing is that investigators believe Thiam was attacked inside his third-floor apartment and either fell or was pushed from a window. Sources familiar with the investigation say there were no signs of forced entry, and the men appeared to be carrying clothing when they left the building. The fact that Thiam was found completely unclothed has left even seasoned detectives shaken and raised painful questions about the level of cruelty involved.
Thiam, originally from CĂ´te d’Ivoire and a longtime Philadelphia resident, was known for his radiant personality and sharp fashion sense that turned heads in airports across the country. Colleagues at American Airlines remember him as the coworker who always lifted everyone’s spirits. At the same time, neighbors on the usually quiet block described him as the friendly face who brightened their day whenever he returned from a trip. His sudden, violent death has left an entire community reeling and demanding answers.
The family has launched a GoFundMe that has already raised more than $17,000 to help with funeral expenses and repatriation costs, with loved ones writing that Thiam died surrounded by those who cherished him while asking Allah to grant him peace.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit anonymous tips at 215-686-TIPS. The images of the two persons of interest can be viewed here and here.
This kind of brutality against someone so universally loved strikes at the heart of what makes Philadelphia feel like home to so many. When a man can be beaten to death in his own house on a quiet residential street, no one feels safe. The police need the public’s eyes and ears now more than ever, because these two men are still walking free, and justice for Amadou Thiam depends on someone recognizing them today.
