Two men gunned down outside Southwest Philly restaurant

Two men were shot to death Wednesday evening during an altercation at a West African restaurant in Southwest Philadelphia, police said.

Around 7:25 p.m., police responded to a report of a fight at BI's Restaurant at 6515 Elmwood Ave., said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives. The arriving officers heard gunshots and saw a 23-year-old man fall to the ground outside the restaurant. An 18-year-old man also was shot outside the restaurant and ran inside where he collapsed. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene with gunshot wounds to the head.

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Another 23-year-old man outside the restaurant was holding a gun and dropped his weapon for the police. He told the officers he had a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, which the police later verified.

According to witness accounts, the shooter and his father, the owner of the restaurant, were eating dinner inside when the two victims entered and began arguing with the father, Walker said. The son and a restaurant employee separated the two men from the owner and got the men to leave the restaurant. The men later reentered the restaurant and an altercation ensued that spilled outside. The son said he was struck in the head with an unknown object and that's when he opened fire.

Whether the son faces charges was still under investigation, Walker said.