West Philly man to stand trial in fatal shooting outside peace concert at Dell
The concert at the Dell Music Center was a "Stop the Violence" program to promote peace in Philadelphia's neighborhoods. It ended with 20-year-old Alexis Guevara mortally wounded in the parking lot after an escalating argument with two men who were leaning on his car.
The concert at the Dell Music Center was a "Stop the Violence" program to promote peace in Philadelphia's neighborhoods.
It ended with 20-year-old Alexis Guevara mortally wounded in the parking lot after an escalating argument with two men who were leaning on his car.
On Tuesday, William Greene was held for trial on a murder charge after his alleged accomplice - testifying anonymously because of threats - told a Philadelphia judge that Greene shot Guevara twice after arguing with him and then, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment robbery attempt, demanded: "Give it up."
Municipal Court Judge Teresa Carr Deni ordered Greene, 24, of Strawberry Mansion, to stand trial on murder, robbery, conspiracy, and several gun charges in the Aug. 13, 2014, shooting.
Two witnesses identified Greene as the shooter at the preliminary hearing, and Greene glared as his friend and alleged accomplice was led into court.
Assistant District Attorney Joseph Whitehead received Deni's permission to identify Greene's alleged accomplice as "C.W.," for confidential witness, to protect him from retaliation.
The witness testified that he had an agreement with the District Attorney's Office in which, in exchange for his testimony, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. He has not yet been sentenced.
The man said he did not see Greene shoot Guevara. But after the shooting, when they ran to Greene's white Chevrolet Impala, he said, he spotted a semiautomatic pistol in the car.
Whitehead said Guevara, of Frankford, was shot twice, once in his aorta. He said ballistics tests showed that two spent cartridges found at the scene came from a .40-caliber pistol.
The witness said he and Greene went to the Dell that night to try to get into the concert or "check out some girls."
He said he and Greene were leaning against a black car in the parking lot when a man approached, shouted an obscenity, and ordered him to "get off my car."
He said they exchanged words until he turned his attention to Guevara's male friend and Guevara apparently turned to Greene.
The witness said he heard shots, turned his head, and saw Guevara on the ground and Guevara's friend calling for help.
Defense attorney Gary S. Silver asked the man why he agreed to talk to police after his arrest. "I was tricked," he replied.
Another witness, Stephen Foster, said he was in his truck in the parking lot waiting to pick up his daughter when he noticed four men nearby at a black car having a loud argument.
Foster testified that a man he identified as Greene and another man started pushing each other and Greene's opponent threw the first punch.
Foster said Greene "stepped backward, reached in his pocket and pulled out a gun. He held it at arm's length and shot him three times."
The wounded man fell to the ground and tried to crawl between two cars, Foster testified, but the gunman shot him a fourth time before fleeing.
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