News that Penn State graduate Evan D. Gargiulo had been charged with murder was "surprising and unwelcome," a college friend said.

Penn State's club swim team Vice President Ryan Davies said hearing Gargiulo, Class of 2008 and fellow swimmer, was going to trial on charges of murder was "stunning."

"I think, like everybody, I am completely shocked," Davies (senior-supply chain management) said. "He was just a normal kid and great friend here at Penn State."

Gargiulo, 22, coached the club swim team while he was a student at Penn State, Davies said.

Gargiulo is charged with murder and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony after he shot cab driver Mazhar Nazir on Nov. 2, near Gargiulo's home in Virginia, Fairfax County Police Officer Eddy Azcarate said Thursday.

Gargiulo remains in Fairfax County jail without bail after a motion hearing Thursday in which the defense contended the act was in self-defense, Steven Garver, Gargiulo's lawyer, said Thursday.

"It's one of those unfortunate tragedies that seems if it had just been slightly different it would not have resulted in someone's death," Garver said Thursday.

While at Penn State, Gargiulo was a member of the ROTC, and is a lieutenant in the National Guard, Garver said Thursday.

Gargiulo was working as an engineer at Lockheed Martin in Reston, Va., at the time of the incident, Keith Mordoff, spokesman for Lockheed Martin, said Friday. Mordoff said Friday he couldn't confirm whether Gargiulo is still an employee.

According to testimony Thursday at the motion hearing, Gargiulo shot and killed Nazir, 49, after a physical altercation over payment for a cab ride, Garver said Thursday.

Gargiulo attended a Halloween party the night of the incident wearing a wetsuit, diver's jacket, diver's boots and blonde wig, according to a search warrant for Gargiulo's apartment.

A search of Gargiulo's apartment revealed a handgun, among other things, according to the search warrant.

During the hearing, the defense said Gargiulo was leaving a Halloween party at a club in the District of Columbia when he realized a bag containing his wallet and car keys was stolen, Garver said Thursday.

In his Halloween costume, Gargiulo left the club and took a cab, driven by Nazir, back to his apartment in Reston, Garver said Thursday. Gargiulo then retrieved his spare car keys and his handgun, and then returned to the cab to drive to his own car parked at a friend's apartment complex, Garver said Thursday.

Arriving at his car, Gargiulo realized he did not have cash to pay Nazir for the cab ride, at which point Nazir became confrontational, Garver said Thursday.

Garver said Thursday that Nazir then attacked Gargiulo, at which point Gargiulo shot Nazir.

Police officers found Nazir dead at about 1:25 p.m. last Sunday in his taxi cab in northern Virginia with a gunshot wound to his head, according to a Fairfax County Police press release.

Gargiulo turned himself in to Fairfax County Police at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after police received a tip from the public, Azcarate said.

Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers could not be reached for comment by press time.