Arrest in Deadly Camden Fried Chicken Melee

Police arrest man charged with killing man with stray bullet fired during a melee in a restaurant

The man who prosecutors say shot and killed a Camden man during an early morning melee in a fried chicken restaurant will be arraigned Wednesday afternoon.

David Porrata, 33, will be charged with killing 36-year-old Franklin Parker outside the Crown Fried Chicken on South Broadway Street.

Gunfire erupted following a brawl inside the chicken restaurant around 5 a.m. on April 27.

Authorities say Parker was grabbing a bite to eat when the melee broke out. Parker and a female friend were trying to get out of the restaurant when he was hit by a stray bullet, cops said.

“There were two people arguing and then the next thing you knew, it was a lot of gunfight" said witness Dionte Brown.

A 22-year-old man was injured after also being shot.

Police say surveillance footage shows Porrata was the only person in the incident who used a firearm and it appears a single shot was responsible for both Parker’s death and the 22-year-old’s injury.

An arrest warrant was issued for Porrata a few days after the shooting. Porrata's arraignment on various charges is set for 2 p.m.

The search continues for the two men identified from surveillance video who prosecutors say returned Porrata's alleged getaway vehicle -- a Dodge Ram pickup truck -- the day after the killing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Camden County Prosecutor's Office at 856-225-8513 or Camden Police at 856-757-7420.


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