Mourners gathered in west London for a two-day funeral service for Salis Hanrahan, a 20-year-old Irish traveller who was shot and killed in Philadelphia last month. Hanrahan died after a confrontation at the home of a 75-year-old ex-firefighter, George Barr, on July 8.
U.S. authorities identified Hanrahan as an illegal immigrant from the United Kingdom who entered the country without authorization. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Hanrahan had been denied an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) due to his affiliation with the 'The Traveling Conman Fraud Group,' which the FBI has designated as a transnational criminal organization known for defrauding individuals with overpriced or incomplete construction work.
Local reports suggest Hanrahan was shot after allegedly attempting to charge the homeowner, George Barr, approximately $51,800 for repairs on his £190,000 property. Hanrahan collapsed on the pavement outside Barr's home in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia and later died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Barr, who is a retired firefighter and a Vietnam War veteran, has been charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. He has been remanded into custody and has not yet entered a plea.
Hanrahan had reportedly been working on Barr's house as part of a construction team in the days leading up to his death. Philadelphia police Captain James Kimrey told reporters that contractors were fitting sliding doors when gunfire was heard, following an argument or commotion inside the home.
Hanrahan, who was married and had a one-year-old daughter, had his remains repatriated to London. Footage emerged last month showing flares being set off and dozens gathering to mark what would have been his 21st birthday, causing significant traffic disruption.
Family members of Salis Hanrahan have publicly condemned George Barr, calling him "evil" and "scum." Conversely, supporters of Barr have defended him, with some online commenters referring to him as a "hero."