Host killed at Northeast Super Bowl party

A Super Bowl party in Northeast Philadelphia turned tragic Sunday night when an off-duty Montgomery County police officer left a loaded gun on a table and a neighbor used it to accidentally kill his host.

Christopher Donaghy, 27, of the 3400 block of Bleigh Avenue, the son of a Philadelphia police officer, died after he was struck once in the back at the party he was hosting for friends and family, Homicide Capt. James Clark said.

Ronald Parncutt, 49, who lived next to the victim in Holmesburg, was charged with murder, Clark said.

"It's a total tragedy that something like this would happen during a festive time, the Super Bowl," Clark said. "It's just something that never should have happened."

The men were among six to eight adults and at least one young child watching the game in the basement of the rowhouse, where Donaghy lived with two others.

Parncutt picked up the loaded 9mm Glock, which a Plymouth Township police officer had left unattended on a table.

Shortly before 9 p.m., as Parncutt allegedly was playing with the unholstered semiautomatic pistol, which did not have a safety lock, he pulled the trigger once, striking Donaghy, who was watching television, Clark said. Donaghy was rushed to Frankford Hospital-Torresdale Campus, where he was pronounced dead.

Donaghy was the son of 14th District Officer John W. Donaghy Jr., authorities said. Through the Police Department, his family said it did not want to speak with reporters.

Clark said the District Attorney's Office was reviewing the circumstances to determine whether the off-duty officer, whose name was not released, would face criminal charges.

Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for the office, would not comment on why a murder charge rather than a lesser offense was filed.

"It's improper to talk about the evidence," Abookire said, adding, "We'll explain the evidence at the preliminary hearing."

Plymouth Township Police Chief Joseph Lawrence declined to identify the officer, but said he had been with the department 21/2 years. He said the officer had been put on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Under department policy, off-duty police officers are allowed to carry loaded handguns, Lawrence said.

Asked whether it was a violation to leave the handgun unsecured, the chief said, "I don't know if it's a departmental rule, but it's a violation of the common-sense rule."

Clark said that Parncutt had been cooperative with investigators, and that he was distraught and extremely remorseful.

Neighbors in the 3400 block of Bleigh Avenue said Donaghy, Parncutt and others renting two rowhouses were friendly and often socialized, especially during sports events. On Sunday, the party started before kickoff, with friends grilling outside in the late afternoon.

Pam Ewing, 45, who lives a block away, described Parncutt as a nice guy who was often the first one outside the day after a party to clean up.

Others said they were unaware of the death. Angel Nejman, 20, who lives across the street, said he saw police outside as he was watching the Super Bowl with friends but assumed authorities had been called to break up a fight.

"That's crazy," he said of the shooting.