Fight triggered shooting rampage in Southwest Philly bar

Four men were killed. Witnesses refused to talk. And Mayor Street vowed to shut down Abay Wheelers Bar, where the gunfire erupted on July 22, until somebody came forward.

Somebody did, and Vonzell Roundtree, 27, was arrested.

Of all the killings that have plagued Philadelphia this year, these were more senseless than most, and the alleged reason why Roundtree committed the shooting finally emerged in court this morning.

Roundtree saw some men punching and "swarming" around his uncle in the Southwest Philadelphia bar, so he pulled out his 9mm Beretta and fired wildly into the crowd, according to an alleged confession read in court.

"I fired until the gun was empty," he said, according to the statement read into the record by Homicide Detective John Harkins.

When the gunfire stopped, four men had been shot, including his uncle, Jamar Thompson, 31, and his uncle's friend  Stacy Gallmon, 36.

All four died.

"I wish I could take it all back," Roundtree said, according to the statement.

Also killed were Claude Snelling, 30, and Arthur Jennings, 20, who allegedly were punching Thompson.

Thompson, Jennings and Snelling died that night. Gallmon died in the hospital Aug. 24.

What started the fight was not explained in court.