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Fight Over Unleashed Dog Leaves Man Dead At South Philly Park

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Sometime after 10 p.m. Saturday night, an engaged couple living across the street from Gold Star Park in South Philly stepped out to walk their dog, according to police.

An altercation occurred between a man already in the park and the 38-year-old victim after the victim asked for the man's dog to be leashed.

Gold Star Park homicide assault
Credit: CBS3

The suspect punched the victim in the face. The victim hit his head on the concrete pavement, and was rushed to the hospital where he later died.

"I just don't understand why someone would be so filled with rage to hit someone over something so insignificant," neighbor Matt Murray said.

Residents who walk their own dogs in the small park are shocked this would happen in their backyard.

"This is pretty out of the norm," neighbor Mike Bernstein said. "There's definitely some people I don't know here, so I can't vouch for everyone, but it's a very friendly neighborhood."

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Murray remembers his neighbor as someone who worked with his fiancé to better their block.

"They're just really amazing people so for something like this to happen to them ... no one deserves for this to happen to them because they're just phenomenal individuals," Murray said.

Now he wants the assailant to turn himself in.

"They're going to live with this for the rest of their lives," Murray said. "And they need to own up to this. This person isn't coming back."

Police say the suspect is somebody who frequents the park but no arrests have been made.

Officials are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses at this time.

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