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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 1/9/06 Section: News
One killed in shooting at Philly Diner
Local man shot Christmas morning following group dispute; suspect charged with murder
JARED MILLER
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![[Becca Starr/The Daily Pennsylvanian]
<b>Philly Diner </b>was the site of a shooting on Christmas morning. A suspect has been charged with murder.](http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper882/stills/43c216682c5cd-54-1.jpg)
Twenty-five year old William Hurt -- a Philadelphia resident -- was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at 10:10 that morning.
Jonathan Morales of Upper Darby, Pa., was arrested on Dec. 29 and was charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime in the shooting.
According to Penn Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Mike Morrin, a group of approximately seven men entered the diner at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 25 and sat down to eat.
Shortly thereafter, a group of four men entered the restaurant. An argument ensued between the two groups, and a man in the second group fired one shot at Hurt, a resident of the 3300 block of Ridge Avenue.
The group of four and all uninjured members of the other party immediately fled the restaurant and Hurt was transported to HUP.
After surveying the scene, police spotted a 1992 Ford Explorer with a gun lying on the seat in plain view. The car was searched and another gun was found.
Morales, 28 -- the owner of the vehicle -- was arrested. The Philadelphia homicide division is currently investigating the case.
The manager of the Philly Diner refused to comment on the homicide.
While many Philly Diner customers were disturbed by the news of the killing, most said the event would have little effect on their willingness to return to the restaurant.
"I've been in Philly for four years, and Philly Diner is just a mainstay for this part of town," said Drexel senior Matt Miller, who eats at the diner several times a week. "It's a tough crowd in there at times, but it's a diner. I never really feel threatened while I'm there, and I still don't," even after the homicide.
"It just makes sense that there wasn't enough security because there aren't as many people" on campus during the break, added Jesy Burns, an employee of College Pizza, a neighbor of the Philly Diner. "But I think that [the police are] also probably not as on top of their game" during winter break.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 2:06 PM EST
Security obviously let their guard down this break. It looks like as soon as the students left they stopped being aggressive. The bad guys certainly feel comfortable carrying guns and shooting people. (Continued…)
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 4:50 PM EST
Murder in the center of campus. Swell.
There is a serious problem when thugs obviously feel comfortable enough to be robbing local establishments and shooting someone in a local restaurant. (Continued…)
87AA413E-DDCB-448C-9EA3-F5B6D9A8CA55
87AA413E-DDCB-448C-9EA3-F5B6D9A8CA55
posted 1/09/06 @ 6:02 PM EST
I think it is lucky the bad guy got shot and the bullet did not hit an innocent bystander. Also, if there are rough crowds in there at night the diner needs a security person. (Continued…)
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 6:33 PM EST
To DP Reader: The article in question mentions nothing about robbery. The shooting stemmed from two groups of thugs getting into an altercation over something that almost everyone would probably consider trivial. (Continued…)
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 6:46 PM EST
Joe, the robbery reference is to the other D.P. article in today's paper entitled "Armed robbers hit local stores".
D.P. Reader
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 6:58 PM EST
Well, it's a good thing today's Washington Post features a big ole article on how well Penn has managed its crime problem of yore by engaging in active area development. (Continued…)
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 7:11 PM EST
I think the Washington Post is going to have to print a retraction.
laughing
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 7:16 PM EST
Penn Dad-
I think it's totally unnecessary and simple-minded to call the kid who was killed "the bad guy". No where in the article does it indicate he had done anything wrong other than get into an argument. (Continued…)
87AA413E-DDCB-448C-9EA3-F5B6D9A8CA55
87AA413E-DDCB-448C-9EA3-F5B6D9A8CA55
posted 1/09/06 @ 7:38 PM EST
Alum, I agree, It was a simple minded comment. All the kid had to do was shut his mouth and avoid confrontation. That is what I teach my kids: avoid confrontation. (Continued…)
anonymous882
anonymous882
posted 1/09/06 @ 8:21 PM EST
To this Penn Dad -- I think everyone agrees with being shocked over this shooting. However, just as the Alum is, I'm surprised that someone would immediately assume that this person did something deserving of being shot in a diner. (Continued…)
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