"None of it makes any sense. None of it should escalate to a homicide. You want more examples of people who don't know how to resolve conflict short of violence," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.
The attack happened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday as the bars and clubs in the area were closing.
Police say the streets were full of young people headed home.
Among them were 23-year-old Kevin Kless and two young women.
They tried to hail a cab, and Kevin yelled something at a cab that passed them by. The two women were then propositioned by the occupants of a maroon four door sedan.
"This caused a reaction; he then said something back either to them or to the cab and started to walk off and with that three of the males exited the vehicle and savagely beat him," Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark said.
Kless died hours later at the hospital.
He had recently moved back to Philadelphia to start a new job and was thrilled to be reunited with his friends.
They spoke exclusively with Action News last night, remembering a good natured young man who lit up the room.
"The most uniquely funny person that I've ever met; he gave us so much joy and laughter," said friend Beth Umstette.
"Every time you were with him, it was always a memory. We are all just a family; we're such a tight knit group," friend Frank Samsel said.
Kless grew up in Warwick, New York where we reached his mother, Kendall Kless, by phone.
"There is no explanation for it. No way to excuse it. No way to understand it or explain it. We are devastated at this loss," Kendall said.
The streets were busy at the time of the beating. The police are convinced there are witnesses who can help them out. They are making a special appeal to the driver of the car who didn't participate in the beating.
"He's going to be charged with the same crime as everybody else, but if he comes in now and cooperates, perhaps the D.A. might be able to work with him a bit in terms of he still has to face consequences, but obviously, it may not be as severe," Ramsey said.
