Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/8/11
Staff Report

Defense attorney Jack McMahon called shooting victim Eddie DiDonato and his friends “privileged drunken bullies” during opening arguments today in the trial of Gerald Ung at Philadelphia Criminal Justice Court.

Ung, 29, of Virginia, is facing charges of attempted murder and related offenses for allegedly shooting DiDonato, 24, of Blue Bell, up to six times in the abdomen and hand following an altercation at 2:45 a.m. on Jan. 17 at 330 Market St.

DiDonato is a former La Salle College High and Villanova lacrosse standout who spent a month on the critical list following the shootings.

McMahon argued that Ung shot DiDonato in self defense and had no malice toward DiDonato. Assistant District Attorney Jan McDermott said in her opening arguments that Ung did have malice and was telling DiDonato and his group, “Don’t piss me off, don’t piss me off” before the shooting.

DiDonato took the stand first as the state began to present its case.

Log on to Phillylacrosse.com for continuing coverage of the trial.

The incident, which drew national headlines last year, was captured by surveillance cameras outside the Fox 29 studios.

According to a police report, officers responded to the scene after hearing four or five shots in the Old City section of the city. Witnesses pointed out that Ung was the shooter, the report said.

Police recovered a 380 Kel Tec semi-automatic pistol and arrested Ung at the scene. Ung was in his final year as a law student at Temple University at the time of the shooting, according to reports.

DiDonato was transported to Jefferson University Hospital where he was in critical condition for a month in the Intensive Care Unit with wounds to the chest, stomach, shoulder and hand. DiDonato now suffers partial paralysis in his left foot due to nerve damage.