Temple Law student charged in shooting of Villanova grad

A 23-year-old Montgomery County man shot during a late-night argument in Old City remained in critical condition yesterday, police said.

Edward DiDonato Jr. of Blue Bell, a former captain of Villanova University's lacrosse team, was shot several times in the chest and abdomen about 2:30 a.m. Sunday after getting into a fight on Market Street, police said. The fight was captured on surveillance cameras outside the Fox 29 television studio.

Gerald Ung, a 28-year-old law student at Temple University from Virginia, has been charged with attempted murder, assault, and violation of the Uniform Firearms Act from his alleged role in the shooting. Police sources said Ung has a gun permit.

Ung, of the 300 block of South 43d Street, has told authorities he acted in self-defense. It was not clear yesterday who his attorney was.

Ung has attended Temple at night for four years, according to Ray Betzner, a university spokesman. He was on track to graduate in May, Betzner said.

DiDonato is being treated at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Cameras outside the Fox 29 studio near Fourth and Market Streets were rolling when a fight broke out between Ung and another group of people, according to police. The trouble may have started when someone bumped into DiDonato, police sources said.

The fuzzy footage, on the myfox29.com Web site, shows a group of people walking on Market. A man can be seen rushing at another man, apparently Ung, who then appears to pull a gun and fire. The men can then be seen falling to the sidewalk.

Ung was arrested at the scene, police said, and did not attempt to flee.

DiDonato was conscious and speaking after the shooting, police said. He has since had several operations.

DiDonato graduated from Villanova in May with a major in criminal justice and a minor in business, according to a biography on a Villanova athletics Web page.

He played defense on Villanova's lacrosse team, which he captained and last year led to the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in school history.