Nightclub patron killed near campus

A local woman was killed just off campus over the weekend in a suspected vehicular homicide.

According to police, 23-year-old Lashaun Hampton of Upper Darby, Pa., was struck by her own car shortly after midnight on Saturday following an argument with an acquaintance outside of the Pegasus Showcase nightclub, located at 3801 Chestnut St.

Cleveland resident Gordon Etchison, 21, is being held in connection with the incident.

Etchison allegedly struck Hampton while driving her 2001 Dodge Stratus. He was chasing Hampton down in the car following the argument, police said.

Philadelphia Police, responding to a 911 call, reportedly found Hampton pinned under the car, which had crashed into a brick wall on the 3900 block of Filbert Street. Etchison was not at the scene.

Hampton was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her death was the result of "massive head trauma," according to Philadelphia Police spokeswoman Stephanie Neil.

Etchison was eventually found, with the help of witnesses to the crash, and arrested at the intersection of 39th and Market streets.

According to Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, Etchison is being held without bail on charges of murder, robbery, two counts of theft, possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person and unauthorized use of an auto.

Etchison "made a culpatory statement" in the presence of homicide detectives, Neil said.

A preliminary hearing for Etchison has been scheduled to take place tomorrow.

The last major crime connected with Pegasus patrons was in February 2000, when a man was shot outside the nightclub just after closing. The man was taken to HUP and later recovered from his wounds.

And in November 1998, a former Temple University student was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run outside Pegasus.

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