UPDATE: Police Charge Man In Shooting Outside South Street Bar
By Syma Chowdhry
PHILADELPHIA (AP/CBS) –Philadelphia police have arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting outside a bar in a popular tourist area.
Twenty-four-year-old Aaron Howard of Willingboro, N.J., faces charges including murder and aggravated assault. Howard is also known as Lance Smith. It's not clear if he has a lawyer.
South Street business owners are now speaking out after the fatal shooting.
Authorities say the victim was rushed to Jefferson University Hospital and was pronounced dead just after 7:30 p.m Sunday.
"South Street has always been the heart beat of Philadelphia," said Daniel Christensen, owner of Copabanana and Redwood on South Street.
He says this area is popular for both tourists and residents.
"It's a place for someone in their 20's. It's a place for someone in their 30's. It's a place for someone in their 40's," Christensen said.
He believes crime can compromise that.
A fight at a South Street bar led to a fatal shooting over the weekend.
It happened outside of Mixed Plate on the 200 block early Sunday morning (See Related Story).
"You don't want the image of the street to be hurt by it," Christensen said.
"It is disappointing to us and the business owners," said Michael Harris, executive director of the South Street Headhouse District.
The group wants to promote a safer environment and says violent crimes on South Street are usually isolated incidents.
Like the shooting in May when Tom Watson, a popular DJ, was fatally shot at his apartment above Haagen Dazs (See Related Story).
Police say Watson was targeted after discovering large amounts of drugs in the apartment.
"The good thing is the police were able to resolve that quickly, that it was an isolated incident," Harris said.
Overall, business owners say South Street is a great spot to shop and dine.
They will work closely with police and install surveillance cameras for added security.
"There is a safe cam program that we are marketing to the businesses where the city will reimburse for cameras, so we are really pushing that out there," Harris said.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten)
