Bouncer charged with killing bar manager inside E. Germantown tavern

The drinks were flowing, the customers were laughing, and a cat was asleep on the bar Tuesday afternoon at Sharon's Little Spot in East Germantown, less than 24 hours after a bar bouncer allegedly shot a bar manager to death there.

Homicide Capt. James Clark said the 28-year-old bouncer and the 44-year-old manager had a history of "bad blood" before Monday night's shooting in the 5600 block of Boyer Street.

By Tuesday evening, the District Attorney's Office had approved murder and related charges against the bouncer, Edward Morgan, of the 2000 block of Mercy Street in South Philadelphia, Clark said.

An argument between Morgan and the victim, Christopher Johnson, escalated into a physical fight around 10:49 p.m. Monday, police said. In a small, private room at the back of the bar, Morgan pulled out a Glock 22 and shot Johnson twice in his torso and once in his left thigh, police said.

Morgan waited at Sharon's Little Spot and the pistol was recovered, police said.

Johnson, of the 7000 block of Rugby Street, West Oak Lane, was taken to Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:22 p.m.

Authorities were trying to determine Tuesday whether Morgan had a license to carry a concealed firearm.

Six customers and a female bartender were at the dimly lit pub early Tuesday afternoon, and a gray-and-black shorthair cat curled up asleep on the bar didn't move when everyone burst into laughter at a joke. An old Galaga arcade game stood near the front of the long, narrow bar.

The customers and bartender declined to comment on the shooting. The bartender said an owner or manager was not available.

According to Philadelphia property tax records, the property is owned by John Whitfield, who purchased it in 2008.

A state liquor license for the establishment issued to SMBW Inc. lists Whitfield as the president and Christina Spence as the manager, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's website. A working number could not be found for Whitfield, Spence, or the bar itself.

Since 2008, the liquor license has been suspended three times and the place has been fined four times by Liquor Control Enforcement officers, according to the PLCB's website.

The infractions include failure to have a manager complete required training, failure to have a valid health permit for two years, and serving alcohol on a suspended license, the website says.

Margaret Blair, 88, who has lived kitty-corner to the bar for decades and remembers when it was known as T.J.'s, said Sharon's Little Spot often gets busy late at night.

"I've been here 50 years and I've never been in," she said.

Blair called Monday night's shooting "terrible" and lamented what she described as growing violence in the neighborhood despite frequent patrols by cops on foot and on bicycle.

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Staff writer Emily Babay contributed to this report.