As police continue to cement facts in the stabbing death of Penn State senior Michael Donahue, a profile of the man charged in the case begins to emerge.

Josephy Alberto Ventura, 27, of East Prospect Avenue, is charged with first- and third-degree murder -- but friends say they can't believe the guy they knew could have stabbed someone.

"He was a really, really nice kid, believe it or not," said Cole Lewko, a Penn State senior who worked with Ventura at The Pita Pit, 218 E. Calder Way, "which is why it's such a shock, the [stuff] that went down."

Lewko called Ventura "very friendly, very honest, very thankful, very grateful."

Pita Pit owner Adam Palmer said Ventura quit the restaurant about two weeks ago.

"From what we all thought, he seemed, I don't know ... " Palmer trailed off. "He never seemed like he would be capable of something like this."

Nearly a week ago, 22-year-old Donahue was fatally stabbed in Club Love, 129 1/2 S. Pugh St. He was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center early Friday morning where doctors performed emergency surgery to try to mend the hole in his heart. Donahue never regained consciousness and died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

A bouquet of flowers was laid on the stoop outside the entrance to Club Love yesterday. "Always remembered Mike," the tag read.

According to court documents, several witnesses identified Ventura as Donahue's attacker the night of the stabbing. He was restrained by bar staff until taken into police custody, where he was found in possession of a bloody kitchen knife with a 3-inch blade. He remains, denied of bail, in Centre County Prison.

Repeated calls to Deborah Lux, the public defender representing Ventura, were not returned yesterday.

To secure a first-degree murder conviction, it must be proved that the homicide was committed both maliciously and intentionally. If Ventura is convicted of first-degree murder, he will face either life in prison or the death penalty. At a press conference Tuesday, District Attorney Michael Madeira said he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Madeira would not comment on whether Ventura ever faced other non-related criminal charges in State College or in New York, where he lived last year. Madeira said such information would "taint the jury pool" -- meaning that potential jurors could be swayed by information of Ventura's past that is presented out of court.

Police are still investigating the motive for Donahue's death. According to court records, a fight broke out between Donahue's friends and Ventura's friends. Robert Walsh, Ventura's friend who was involved in the fight but released by police, also worked at The Pita Pit but quit about a week ago, Palmer said.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said he is unaware of any memorial services being planned to honor Donahue.

Bob Smith, assistant director at the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs, said individual memorials at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center are held at the request of family members or friends, and one has not been requested.

Ventura's preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident who has not talked to police to call State College Police Detective Ralph Ralston at 234-7150.