Law student held for trial in shooting outside Fox studio

Gerald Ung, the third-year Temple University law school student arrested in January for shooting another man five times in front of the Old City Fox TV studio, this morning was ordered to stand trial on attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.

Philadelphia Municipal Judge David Shuter dismissed two gun charges because Ung had a legal permit to carry a gun from his native state of Virginia.

Ung, 28, out on bail and dressed in a black business suit and dark-rimmed glasses, said nothing during his preliminary hearing.

On Jan. 17, he got into an altercation with four young men at about 2:30 a.m. at 4th and Market streets. Seth Webster, one of the four, testified that Ung pulled out a gun after his friend Tom Kelly started moving toward him. "Get the F--- back," Ung shouted, Webster said.

Another friend, Edward "Eddie" DiDonato Jr., 23, then said to Ung, "Who you gonna shoot?" Webster said.

Ung kicked at DiDonato to keep him at bay, DiDonato grabbed at Ung's leg. As he fell backward, Ung began firing.

He hit DiDonato five times in the upper body. DiDonato, a Villanova University graduate, is still recovering with four bullets in his body and is suffering with paralysis of the bowels, bladder, sexual organs and left foot, said Assistant District Attorney Jan McDermott.

"Years ago what would have ended in a fist fight ended with the paralysis of a 23-year-old kid," she said.

McMahon said the shooting was self-defense. "My client was the victim of bullies," he said. "Four guys are drunk and they think they can bully anybody they want, say whatever they want and do whatever they want."