In a bizarre incident right outside Independence Hall earlier this week, a man was beaten to death due to an apparent misunderstanding. Now police are looking for those responsible for his wrongful death, even offering a $10,000 reward for information.

The 23-year-old man was with his girlfriend and another female friend after leaving Lucy's Hat Shop Restaurant & Lounge last weekend. They walked a few blocks and tried to hail a cab at Fourth and Chestnut Streets. The area was apparently clogged with taxis.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the man began talking with a taxi driver whose vehicle's light was on, indicating it was free. However, the driver apparently resisted giving them a ride, either because there were already people in the cab or he did not want to travel the requested distance.

The man apparently yelled at the driver something to the effect of "Turn off your light!" The occupants of a vehicle a few cars down apparently thought he was yelling at them. Before he could do anything, two men got out of the vehicle and attacked him without warning. A third man then joined in the attack.

One of the men apparently crushed the man's head against a low stone wall. He suffered serious injuries and died about 17 hours later at a hospital. He never regained consciousness.

In addition to the $10,000 reward, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 pledged an additional $5,000. It's possible donations may make the reward even larger in the hopes of capturing the men responsible for the victim's death.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, "$15,000 reward offered in Phila. beating death," Mike Newall, Jan. 17, 2012