Fight arose over pool game A man was shot in the jaw in front of the Allegro Pizzeria at 40th and Spruce streets at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning, University Police Sergeant Keith Christian said. The shooting apparently started as a fight at University Pinball -- also at 40th and Spruce streets -- over a pool game, which turned violent. "They fired one shot in the game room, [and] three shots were fired outside," Christian said. One bullet hit the man standing in front of Allegro's in his jaw. Another bullet flew through the window of the restaurant, as the sidewalk became covered with blood from the man's face. A Philadelphia Police officer, who was in Billy Bob's Restaurant at the time, promptly responded to the incident. Christopher Cox of Philadelphia was arrested and charged with the crime. A .25 caliber pistol was found nearby. The injured man was transported to Miseracordia Hospital for medical attention. Allegro's employee Angel Hernandez was in the restaurant at the time of the shooting. He said the 25 people in the store at the time "panicked" as the gunshot pierced the glass window facing 40th Street. "Two girls were crying and everyone was on the ground after the first shot," he said. People eating in Allegro's Sunday night said although they are unhappy about the shooting, they were not surprised. "I think it is pretty scary, but I've been here for four years, [and] I guess I'm desensitized to all the crime around here," College senior Jennifer Weinberg said, as she ate in front of the boarded-up window that was shot out Saturday. "It's not like I'm going to stop eating here." College senior Ilian Marquez echoed her view. "It doesn't faze me," he said. "I guess you get used to these kinds of things around here. There are often people yelling and fighting in the streets here [at 40th and Spruce streets]. It's what I'd expect from around here." In front of Allegro's, most people walked over the blood-stained side-walk without notice. Some, however, thought this was another incident of violence in a violent neighborhood. "It's a sad state of affairs in our good old USA," said Trenton resident Eric Smith, who is visiting his brother at the University. He said he is not concerned about his brother's safety, because he thinks his brother is smart enough to avoid crime. A manager at Billy Bob's, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he is not surprised at the incident because "it's West Philadelphia." "Stuff always happens," he said. "This is a very high crime area. I think I'm as concerned and scared as I can be." University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich disagreed. "I don't think that type thing is something we expect from the area," he said. He added that the only thing that can be done to stop this type of violence is to "change the gun laws." Kuprevich said University Police has talked with people around 40th and Spruce streets and is planning on "working with the community about getting they're neighborhood back."
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