Update: DiDonato Returns to Fair Condition
News Links
* Hearing Set for Ung (Philadelphia
Inquirer)
* Suspect is no troublemaker, friends say
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
* DiDonato a hero, spokesperson says (Times
Herald)
* DiDonato reportedly stepped in front of gun to
save friends (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* DiDonato the nephew of prominent Philadelphia
Republican (Philadelphia Inquirer)
* DiDonato's sister: He 'thinks he's invincible'
(Metro International)
* Coverage
at PhillyLacrosse.com
from staff reports
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Former Villanova men's lacrosse captain Eddie DiDonato remains hospitalized after he was shot several times in an altercation Jan. 17. © Kevin P. Tucker |
Following a setback in his recovery, Eddie DiDonato, the 23-year-old former Villanova men's lacrosse captain shot several times in a Jan. 17 altercation in Philadelphia, returned to fair condition Tuesday, according to PhillyLacrosse.com
After being upgraded to fair condition last week, an infection
following his sixth surgery Monday spurred a 106-degree fever,
former Penn State standout Rob Forster told the Web site.
Support for DiDonato has swelled on the Facebook page, "Support
Eddie DiDionato in his road to recovery!!!" The page, created by
Forster, who played high school lacrosse with DiDonato at La Salle
(Pa.), now has 2,385 fans.
Forster told PhillyLacrosse.com he planned to visit DiDonato
Wednesday to deliver a lacrosse shirt signed by members of the
Philadelphia Wings.
Jan. 26, 2010
Former Villanova lacrosse captain Eddie DiDonato, who had made
much progress toward recovery after being shot six times eight days
ago in Old City, Philadelphia, suffered a setback over the weekend
and has been downgraded to critical condition at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, according to PhillyLacrosse.com.
DiDonato, 23, of Blue Bell, who was listed in fair condition on
Friday, underwent emergency surgery Sunday and returned to
intensive care, according to a text statement from the DiDonato
family. His condition, however, had stabilized today, the statement
said.
Meanwhile, the Temple law student accused in the shooting, Gerald
Ung, 28, was in court this morning for his preliminary hearing on
charges of attempted murder and other offenses. That hearing has
been continued to April 16.
DiDonato has yet to issue a statement to police but has shared information with his family in between medically-induced comas.
Jan. 21, 2010
Former Villanova lacrosse captain Eddie
DiDonato, who had made much progress toward recovery after
being shot six times eight days ago in Old City, suffered a setback
over the weekend and has been downgraded to critical condition at
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, a spokesperson said.
DiDonato, 23, of Blue Bell, who was listed in fair condition on
Friday, underwent emergency surgery Sunday and was moved back to
the Intensive Care unit, according to a text statement this
afternoon from the DiDonato family. His condition, however, had
stabilized today, the statement said. No further details were
available.
Meanwhile, the Temple law student accused in the shooting, Gerald
Ung, 28, was in court this morning for his preliminary hearing on
charges of attempted murder and other offenses. That hearing has
been continued to April 16.
Eddie DiDonato, the former Villanova lacrosse captain, has been
upgraded to fair condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
as he attempts to recover from six gunshot wounds sustained during
an altercation in the Old City section of Philadelphia Sunday
morning, a hospital spokesperson told Chris Goldberg of PhillyLacrosse.com.
DiDonato has undergone three surgeries and still has five bullets
lodged in his shoulders and abdomen. Doctors are optimistic about
his recovery.
The suspect, Gerald Ung, 28, is a law student at Temple
University. He was apprehended at the scene and charged with
attempted homicide and other charges. He was released Monday on 10
percent of $200,000 bail.
On Facebook, a group titled "Gerald Ung is Innocent" was created
and now has swelled to 149 fans. Meanwhile, DiDonato's friend Rob
Forster (see portions of interview below or in its entirety here)
created a Facebook page called "Support Eddie DiDonato on his Road
to Recovery." That page has nearly 200 fans.
Jan. 18, 2010
Former Villanova men's lacrosse captain Eddie DiDonato, 23, was shot several times during an altercation in the Old City section of Philadelphia early Sunday morning and remained in critical condition Monday, according to PhillyLacrosse.com.
The shooting, captured by a TV station's surveillance camera (see video at bottom), occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Market Street, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The suspected shooter, 28-year-old Gerald Ung, was arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related charges.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from an argument that broke out on the street between Ung and a group of pedestrians. Police told Fox29, outside whose studio the shooting took place, that DiDonato was bumped while doing chin-ups on scaffolding. Another group rushed Ung, who pulled out a gun and fired on DiDonato, who had stepped in front of the group. DiDonato was shot six times in his upper body and abdomen. Accoring to Fox29's report, DiDonato could be seen delivering punches as he and Ung, a third-year law student at Temple University, fell to the ground together.
DiDonato's best friend, 2009 Penn State graduate and LaSalle (Pa.) High School teammate Rob Forster, told PhillyLacrosse.com that DiDonato's doctors at Thomas Jefferson University hospital remain optimistic that DiDonato, who was coherent in the ambulance as police responded minutes after the shooting, can survive.
Forster said DiDonato still has five bullets lodged in his body and that one went through his hand. Part of a lung and his small intestine had to be removed in the initial surgery and he is currently in an induced coma, Forster said.
Said Forster: “He lost a lot of blood, but he is regaining it now and it’s just a miracle. He’s a strong dude and the doctors said that since he’s a healthy kid it’s working to his advantage. It’s a miracle right now... Eddie is part of my family. He has been squeezing my hand and giving me the thumbs up.”
Click here for more from Chris Goldberg's exclusive interview with Forster on PhillyLacrosse.com
