Reward offered in repairman's N. Phila. killing

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of a heating repairman shot dead while making a call in North Philadelphia last week.

Homicide detectives, meanwhile, returned yesterday to the neighborhood near Temple University seeking witnesses.

Carl Tomberlain, 42, a married father of two girls from the Mayfair section of the Northeast, was shot once in the head about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday on the 1800 block of West Norris Street.

He died two hours later at Temple University Hospital, police said.

Tomberlain, who worked for Petro Oil in Southampton, Bucks County, had responded to a call from Temple students who had no heat in their residence on nearby Woodstock Street.

When he did not find them at home, he slipped a note under the door and returned to his truck, where he was shot, police said.

Witnesses told detectives they saw two men running from the scene, but no one could tell police what happened immediately before the shots rang out.

Investigators suspect Tomberlain may have been killed during a robbery attempt from which the thieves fled empty-handed.

Petro has posted the reward, which is being administered by the Citizens Crime Commission.

Anyone with information can call the commission at 215-546-8477 (546-TIPS).