By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/25/10
Former Villanova lacrosse captain Eddie DiDonato, who had made much progress toward recovery after being shot six times eight days ago in Old City, suffered a setback over the weekend and has been downgraded to critical condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a spokesperson said.
DiDonato, 23, of Blue Bell, who was listed in fair condition on Friday, underwent emergency surgery Sunday and was moved back to the Intensive Care unit, according to a text statement this afternoon from the DiDonato family. His condition, however, had stabilized today, the statement said. No further details were available.
Meanwhile, the Temple law student accused in the shooting, Gerald Ung, 28, was in court this morning for his preliminary hearing on charges of attempted murder and other offenses. That hearing has been continued to April 16.
Police said the incident occurred early in the morning on Jan. 17 in the 300 block of Market Street in Old City. Ung allegedly shot DiDonato six times during an altercation, much of which was videotaped by surveillance cameras outside the Fox 29 TV Studios. No other details have been released and the investigation continues.
Ung is out on 10 percent of $200,000 bail.
The DiDonato family requested that friends continue to offer prayers for their son’s recovery. DiDonato still had five bullets lodged in his abdomen, liver area and shoulders last week, his best friend, Rob Forster, reported to Phillylacrosse.com.
DiDonato, the nephew of city Republican leader Michael Meehan, was a two-time captain (defenseman) at Villanova and graduated last May with a degree in criminal justice.
DiDonato was an All-American for La Salle in 2005 and helped the Explorers win the 2004 state championship. He was a four-year starter at Villanova, and led the Wildcats to the Colonial Athletic Association championship last year and into the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in school history, earning Second Team All-CAA honors.
DiDonato helped lead La Salle to the Keystone Cup championship as a junior when the Explorers went 28-2 and whipped Shady Side Academy, 13-5, for the state crown. As a senior he led La Salle to the finals of the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Athletic Association tournament where his Explorers (29-3) fell to Haverford School. DiDonato was a two-time all-EPSLA (All-State) pick and played club lacrosse for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club.
