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Police are investigating the homicide of a former Southern hoopster.
Robert McKee, 24, of the 1200 block of Bainbridge Street, was gunned down with a shot to the head at 5:46 a.m. Tuesday on the 600 block of South 12th Street and was pronounced dead at the scene six minutes later, Officer Jill Russell of the Police Public Affairs Unit said.
McKee relocated from Glen Mills in 2005 to his grandmother’s Hawthorne home where he also lived with his brother, Tywain McKee, who is currently a pro ball player in Russia for the BC Triumph Lyubertsy Moscow Region. However, after enrolling at South Philly High School, 2101 S. Broad St., he was deemed academically ineligible his junior year.
With mentoring from a neighborhood coach and his brother, who is the all-time leading scorer at Baltimore’s Coppin State University, McKee, known as “Elevator Man” for his dunking skills, had a change in attitude.
The 6-foot-3 forward’s high school career ended with a second-round exit in the ’07 state tournament, but the then-senior impressed his coach with a second-quarter basket.
“That was the best dunk of the year,” Southern coach George Anderson said after the loss. “[McKee] actually took the ball to the basket with a man on him. That was an amazing dunk.”
Since high school, McKee played at Baltimore City Community College, but had a few run-ins back in his hometown, including arrests for assaults and drug possessions, according to court records. Most of the charges were withdrawn with McKee set to appear in court Monday regarding an alleged possession charge.
Police did not have a motive or suspects for his homicide at press time, Russell said.
To report information, call Homicide Division at 215-686-3334, text PPDTIP (773847) or visit phillypolice.com/forms.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
Also in this week’s Police Report:
Mail-slot break-ins
Wounded on the holiday
September police meetings
Web-exclusive Police Report:
Painful behavior
Eye on the crime
Skull scraper
Taking a piece of the pie
In August’s Court Report:
Slayer sentenced
Piling on the time
In the penalty box
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