Felipe Bernabe (submitted)

A York City father of two fatally shot outside his home Monday night might have been targeted by robbers, police said.

Felipe Bernabe, 43, of the 600 block of East South Street, died of a single gunshot wound to the back.

"We think he was possibly being robbed," said Lt. Tim Utley, who supervises York City's detective bureau. "There was some type of altercation that preceded the shooting, and we suspect it to be a robbery, or at least an attempted robbery."

Bernabe had just gotten out of his work truck when he was approached, police said.

Detectives investigating the homicide have found nothing to suggest Bernabe was involved in any type of activity that would have led to his shooting, according to Utley.

"Right now that's how it appears to us," he said. "And we have no reason to believe anything else."

The background: Officers found Bernabe lying in the middle of the street about 10:25 p.m. He was rushed to York Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:46 p.m., officials said.

His widow, Patricia Cruz, and other family members described him as hardworking and devoted to Cruz and their two daughters, ages 16 and 10.

"Mostly he worked seven days a week," Cruz said. "He was an excellent father, an excellent husband."

Bernabe was self-employed as a landscaper and also looked for any other ways to make extra money for his family, including repairing furniture, she said.

Tips sought: York City Police Chief Wes Kahley has said detectives need to speak to anyone who was in the area around the time of the fatal shooting, whether they witnessed the homicide or not.

Anyone with information about Bernabe's slaying is urged to call detectives at 849-2219, or call the city's anonymous crime tip line, 849-2204. Or anonymously text a tip to YORKTIPS at 847411.

-- Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com, 505-5429 or twitter.com/ydcrimetime.