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Man shot in self-defense outside grocery store faces aggravated assault charge

A man shot in the parking lot of a Northeast Philadelphia supermarket after he allegedly threatened another man and his girlfriend with a 13-inch hunting knife has been charged with a slew of offenses related to the attack.

A man shot in the parking lot of a Northeast Philadelphia supermarket after he allegedly threatened another man and his girlfriend with a 13-inch hunting knife has been charged with a slew of offenses related to the attack.

Dondi DeCosta, 37, was charged Thursday with aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats and related offenses. A judge set his bail at $75,000.

DeCosta is accused of approaching 38-year-old William Lawler, an Army veteran and firearms instructor, and his girlfriend outside the Pathmark store on Frankford Avenue near Megargee Street the afternoon of Oct. 12. DeCosta, Lawler told the Daily News in an interview after the incident, approached him and his girlfriend wielding the knife and threatened, "I'll cut you up." After several attempts to calm the situation, Lawler said, he was forced to use his 9mm Glock -- which he was legally carrying -- to shoot DeCosta in self-defense.

DeCosta, wounded in the groin, still tried to fight, Lawler said after the shooting, and threw the knife at the man. Lawler and his girlfriend were not injured in the incident.

A police source said surveillance video from the store's cameras clearly shows that Lawler shot DeCosta in self-defense.

DeCosta, who has a lengthy record of 21 prior arrests, was treated for his injury at Aria Health's Torresdale hospital. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing Nov. 13, according to court documents.