PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia judge has tossed some charges against a man accused of shooting three women outside of a hookah lounge near Temple University’s campus in March.
During the preliminary hearing on Thursday, prosecutors showed surveillance video of a security guard pushing 23-year-old Eryk Leach Gilliam out of a hookah lounge near 10th and Diamond streets on March 19.
Gilliam pulled a gun on the security guard, which he was licensed to carry. The guard pulled one too and fired, crtiically striking Gilliam.
Gilliam returned fire — striking three women outside.
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The security guard had already been granted immunity from being charged, as he said he was just trying to protect himself and the people inside the bar.
Gilliam’s defense attorney, Max Kramer, argued his client never pointed the gun at the security guard; he was “merely holding a gun” and began firing in self-defense.
Judge Christine Hope sternly told Gilliam’s lawyer that while he was licensed to carry, the “go-to should not be to pull out a gun.”
She dismissed the aggravated and simple assault charges against Gilliam that involved the guard, but she kept the remaining charges connected to the three victims. She said it should be up to a jury to decide if it was self-defense.
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