Harrisburg police on Wednesday identified a man who was found mortally-wounded by gunfire early Tuesday in the 1700 block of Market Street.

Harvey Govan Jr., 52, stopped at Piccolo’s Café after work Monday night then was walking home when someone fatally shot him, according to friends. Police provided no details about what happened or a possible motive.

One friend, Barry Chisolm, said he believed Govan was shot closer to Piccolo’s at 201 S. 17th Street but then stumbled and ran a few blocks down to 17th and Market, where he collapsed.

Police were called to the intersection about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, where they found Govan mortally wounded, less than a mile from his destination where he had been living. He later died at a hospital.

Govan grew up in Harrisburg, where he was well-known, and had two sisters and one brother. He previously worked at a warehouse and most recently worked at a fast-food restaurant.

“Harvey was the nicest guy I would ever want to meet,” said Kevin Dolphin, a community activist who grew up with Harvey. “When I heard about his death, it really touched me. I had just seen him a week prior walking down the street from the corner of my house. I can’t imagine anyone doing that to him.”

Harvey’s nickname was “Peaches,” and the moniker fit, Dolphin said, because Harvey was known for being sweet and kind.

Harvey Govan liked to smile and radiated positivity, according to his friends.

He taught his younger sister how to make upside-down pineapple cake and they would compete in cook-offs, according to her posts on Facebook.

Harvey was gifted in the kitchen and outside on the grill. He often called himself a “grill master,” on his social media posts and regularly cooked chicken, hamburger and other meat on an outdoor grill for family gatherings. He also was a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles football team.

“He was nice his whole life. He never changed,” Dolphin said. “No one’s an angel but he was such a good guy.”

Chisolm said he would run into Govan often, but they would be brief encounters as Govan would be headed to work or Chisolm would be headed to buy supplies for his job.

“He always worked hard and always had a job,” Chisolm said. “He was always very positive and very drama free. He didn’t even hang out with people for the most part, you would just usually see him walking around by himself.”

Govan’s death represented the sixth homicide in the city so far this year, including the second one in the area near 17th and Market streets. For now, police don’t believe his unsolved killing was connected to any other killings or shootings.

Harrisburg Police said they are still actively investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to call them at 717-558-6900. A Crime Stoppers reward may be available for information that helps solve the case.

The city logged 14 homicides in 2018.

2019 CENTRAL PA. HOMICIDE MAP: Click to see the homicides that have happened in central Pennsylvania in 2019.



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