Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/8/11
Staff Report
Philadelphia police officer Mario DeLuca testified that the defendant in the shooting of former lacrosse standout Eddie DiDonato ignored his request to hand over the gun during the first day of today’s trial at Philadelphia Common Pleas Court.
Ung, 29, of Virginia, is charged with attempted murder in the shooting of DiDonato, a graduate of La Salle College High and Villanova University. The incident occurred about 2:45 a.m. on Jan. 17 at Third and Market streets in the Old City section of Philadelphia.
DeLuca testified that he was doing nightclub detail that morning and heard four or five shots. He said it took only 5 to 10 seconds to get to DiDonato.
He told the jury he saw DiDonato on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds and then grabbed Ung and asked, “Where is the gun, where is the gun?”
Ung refused to give him the gun and began to reach for his right front pocket, DeLuca testified.
“I was concerned for my own safety … he kept reaching for the pocket.”
DeLuca said Ung stopped reaching for the gun – a Kel-Tec 380 semi-automatic – only after he pulled out his gun. Two more officers were required to handcuff Ung, who was struggling with the three officers.
DeLuca testified that Ung said, “I have a permit, I have a permit.”
