Police: Man killed in brawl outside Philly cheesesteak spot

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A New York man was killed Thursday after he was beaten with a trash can lid and pummeled during a brawl outside a famous Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant, police said.

The violence at Pat’s King of Steaks may involve spectators who earlier attended a soccer game, police said. The Philadelphia Union had lost to Club América on Wednesday night.

Isidro Cortez, a 28-year-old from Queens, was fatally beaten and two other people, including his 64-year-old father, were injured in the fight before the suspects fled in an SUV, police said. According to police, the injured were taken to a hospital for treatment but were stable.

Alcohol may have played a role in the brawl, police said. No arrests had been made as of late Thursday, but police were looking for suspects seen in security camera footage.

“Normally, these are well run businesses that are quite safe. People just come here for a good steak sandwich. However, every once in a while, you get a fight that escalates into violence,” said Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police were called to the restaurant in July after a New Jersey man was shot and killed during an argument police said started over football. A Pennsylvania man was charged in that shooting.