Mayor Reacts To Fan's Fatal Beating

PHILADELPHIA - Three men are now in custody and charged in connection with the weekend beating of a Phillies fan near Citizens Bank Park.

And the city's mayor is reacting to the alleged murder of 22-year-old David Sale, of Lansdale, who attended Saturday's afternoon game with a bachelor party.

Police said the fight was the result of a spilled drink at McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon, which is attached to the ballpark.

The last of the three suspects taken into custody was 28-year-old Francis Kerchner, of the 1200 block of East Palmer Street. The youngest of the accused allegedly left the scene after the fight but turned himself in to police Monday night.

Also charged are Jim Grove, 45, of the 800 block of East Almond Street, and Charles Bowers, 35, of the 6100 block of Bustleton Avenue. Police said both were arrested at the scene.

The trio was among a group of at least 50 guys who took a bus from a Fishtown bar to see the Phils play the St. Louis Cardinals.

Police said all three of the men had some criminal past and were known to authorities.

Court records show Bowers was involved in another big fight back in 1993, when a brawl involving at least 30 people broke out during a late-night party. Bowers allegedly stabbed a guy four times, Fox 29's Steve Keeley reported.

Kerchner was on probation when Saturday's alleged attack occurred.

The beating was the first of seven weekend homicides police detailed during Monday's news conference, and it's receiving national attention.

Police said the suspects continued to kick and stomp on Sale's head to the point where his face was unrecognizable.

"It was pretty much out of control," Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit Capt. Richard Clark said. "I mean, you have several people fighting inside, to the point where security came and again pushed everyone -- all of the combatants and everyone involved in it -- outside of the bar."

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey called it "behavior that's just not acceptable under any circumstances all over a spilled beer."

"I mean, when you stop to think about it, it just makes absolutely no sense that something like that would happen," Ramsey said.

Mayor Michael Nutter reacted to the killing as well as fans using laser pointers to distract Cardinals batters by telling Fox 29 News, "This is, as far as I'm concerned, crazy, stupid, ignorant behavior that is in no way, shape or form representative of Philadelphians and people in the region. It's not a reflection on the Philadelphia Phillies. And, unfortunately, it is impossible to account for every stupid, ignorant, asinine thing that someone might do.

"… I mean, you put 45,000-plus people in one place and, unfortunately, one or two can make it very bad for everyone else," Nutter added.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison said on "Good Day Philadelphia" Tuesday morning that the first part of prevention is simply people need to treat each other with a little bit of respect.

Second, he said, there needs to be better communication between establishments and the city.

"Our issue is find out what's happening. Get the temperature of your bar. If you see things are starting to get out of control, call us. We'll get there, and we'll be able to handle it," Gillison said.

Gillison said McFadden's and the Phillies did a good job of pushing the fight outside into the parking lot.

"However, notify us a little sooner so we can get the proper response," he added.