Police say the man who was shot and killed by another customer in the wee hours of Dec. 25 at the Philly Diner apparently did not know his attacker.
According to Philadelphia homicide detective Joseph Centenl, 25-year-old Philadelphia resident William Hurt and Jonathan Morales -- the man charged in his shooting -- were complete strangers.
Hurt, of the 3300 block of Ridge Avenue, died of a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. He was transported by ambulance to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and pronounced dead about six hours later at 10:10 a.m.
Centenl, the detective who is investigating the case, said that Hurt and his group of three females and three males were eating at the diner -- located at 3925 Walnut St. -- when Morales and three other males entered the restaurant.
According to Centenl, an argument arose when the four men started "bad-mouthing" Hurt and his companions. A member of the all-male party fired a gunshot and both parties fled. Only Hurt was injured.
Morales, 28, a resident of Upper Darby, was charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime after police identified him as the owner of a 1992 Ford Explorer in which two guns were found. Police found the vehicle near the scene of the crime.
A hearing is set for February.
Centenl said his department first received news of the disturbance from a Philly Diner employee around 3:32 a.m.
One of the eatery's managers, who refused to give his name, declined to comment.
Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey said security was in full force at the time of the incident, but added that since it was an "isolated incident" that occurred indoors, it would have been hard to prevent.
"It was a spontaneous argument," he said. "What kind of a determining factor can you have?"
The shooting was the only homicide that occurred on Penn's campus in 2005 out of the 383 that hit the city of Philadelphia last year, according to city and Penn police.
"If it's a drug corner, you can combat it," Penn Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Mike Morrin said. "This is a regular eating establishment where everyone goes."
Dorsey said that the shooting has increased his commitment to keeping criminals off Penn's campus.
Philadelphia witnessed 12 homicides for the month of January. The most recent case involved a 40-year-old South Philadelphia woman whose body was found early Wednesday morning.
Dorsey said that while the homicide uptick hasn't plagued Penn, it doesn't mean he can lower his guard.
"We don't accept any homicides, any crimes," he said.
Fast facts - William Hurt shot at Philly Diner on Dec. 25 - Shooting one of 383 homicides in city ofPhiladelphia in 2005
