Family seeks help in unsolved murder of South Jersey man

Three years ago today, Matt Novak hitched a ride with strangers to go get jumper cables when his friend's car broke down in Spring Garden. But instead of helping him, the strangers killed him, shooting him in the hip and booting him out of their car about five minutes later and a mile away.

This slaying remains unsolved today. To mark the anniversary, Novak's family will appeal to the public today in a news conference at Police Headquarters for help in solving the case. They are offering a $21,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Novak's killers.

Novak, 24, of Mulllica Hill, N.J., had come to Philadelphia that day with friends to attend the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. His friend's car broke down on Sixth Street near Spring Garden just before 7 p.m., and Novak flagged down a passing Chevy Impala and asked the occupants to take him somewhere to get jumper cables.

Instead, the driver stopped on Fairmount Avenue near 13th, where Novak either got out or was pushed out of the car. Witnesses told police the rear-seat passenger then leaned out and shot Novak in the hip. Novak died about three hours later at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Street surveillance cameras caught video of the newer-model, blue Impala, which had New Jersey tags and tinted windows. Before he died, Novak told police the car's occupants were three black men he didn't know. It's unclear what happened inside the car before Novak was gunned down. To see the videos, go to: Who killed Matt Novak.

Anyone with any information about this crime or these suspects should call the Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia at (215) 546-TIPS or email tipline@crimecommission.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous.