An argument that began inside The Cove strip club in Port Richmond spilled on to the street and quickly turned violent on Wednesday, Oct. 19. That evening, yellow police tape dangled in the rain soaked night, while the soft glow of the club’s prominent corner sign reflected off the wet, blood-stained pavement. What began as a shouting match inside escalated into a physical confrontation at Allegheny Avenue and Richmond Street. According to police, the incident didn’t end until three shots were fired and a 35-year-old man was injured. Philadelphia police spokeswoman Officer Tanya Little said that the incident began at around 5:10 p.m. when two men got into an argument in the club, though she wasn’t certain what kicked off the altercation. The men brought the fight outside, where one individual, a 33-year-old male that police haven’t yet identified, pulled a weapon and fired three shots; one shot struck the victim’s right arm. After firing the shots, Little said, the shooter ran down Clearfield Street onto the 3100 block of Melvale Street where he hopped into a 1999 Honda Accord and fled the scene. A police patrol unit pulled the vehicle over and, Little said, officers arrested the man and recovered the weapon used in the incident. The victim was transported to Temple University Hospital in stable condition.
Reporter Hayden Mitman can be reached at 215–354–3124 or hmitman@bsmphilly.com
