Man charged with murder in New Year's Eve Tioga shooting

Police have charged a 22-year-old man with murder, saying he opened fire during a fight at a crowded New Year's Eve house party in the city's Tioga section, killing a 23-year-old Temple University student and injuring two men.

Stephen Johnson of North Philadelphia was a senior at Temple's Fox School of Business, university spokesman Ray Betzner said. He was to graduate in the spring. Family members could not be reached for comment Friday.

Lawrence Jeffries of Glenside was taken into custody after the shooting early Tuesday. He also faces aggravated-assault charges in connection with the shootings of two unidentified victims, a 22-year-old man and a third man, as well as injuries to a woman who jumped from a second-story window to escape the gunfire.

Jeffries, who has no criminal record, told police he fired in self-defense after he was physically accosted. It was not clear from court records whether he had retained an attorney. His gun was legally obtained, police said.

The 22-year-old was shot multiple times and taken to Temple University Hospital in critical condition. Police said he was expected to survive. The third man was shot in a foot and was recovering at Einstein Medical Center.

None of the surviving victims or other partygoers are affiliated with Temple, Betzner said.

Philadelphia homicide Detective Philip Riehl said Johnson and the other victims were at the party on the 1700 block of Venango Street around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when they got into an argument with Jeffries. Police said accounts differed on what the argument was about, but Riehl said the men did not know each other.

Jeffries told police he fired after one of the men swung at him and another lunged at him. Police are not yet certain which victim was hit first, but Riehl said there were numerous witnesses.

"This all happened very quickly," Riehl said.

Jeffries left the party after the shooting, called police, and waited nearby for them to arrive, Riehl said.

Under state law, the use of deadly force in self-defense is justified only if it is impossible to safely leave the situation or if a person believes his or her life is in danger.

In January 2010, former Temple law student Gerald Ung was arrested for shooting Edward DiDonato Jr. after the men crossed paths in Old City after a night of barhopping. After an argument sparked between Ung's friends and DiDonato's, Ung testified, DiDonato and his friends followed and menaced him for a block. DiDonato's friends said Ung started the trouble.

When Ung drew a pistol and pointed it at DiDonato, warning him to back up, DiDonato advanced, Ung said. Ung then kicked at him, and DiDonato grabbed his leg. Ung fired as he fell backward, he testified, shooting DiDonato six times.

DiDonato survived, but still has four bullets lodged inside him, and has a pronounced and likely permanent limp.

In February 2011, a Common Pleas Court jury acquitted Ung of all charges.