Philadelphia’s early‑morning calm shattered just before 4 a.m. on July 5, when gunfire erupted on the balcony of 7 Elements restaurant, bar, and lounge in South Philly. Eight people—including two security guards—were struck and, though shaken, all are now in stable condition, according to official reports.
On July 11, police confirmed that 43‑year‑old Michael Welton, employed as a security guard that night, turned himself in and was arrested. He faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. Authorities said an argument outside escalated into a knife fight, and that when Welton and others tried to intervene, someone—identified as Welton—opened fire.…