PHILADELPHIA — A suspect in the apparent road-rage death of a 14-year-old bicyclist — a crime that has shaken even this violence-weary city — was beaten up in a courthouse holding cell and taken to a hospital Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the suspect's lawyer said there is no dispute that his client, Charles Meyers, fired the shot that killed Tykeem Law.

"It's uncontradicted that Mr. Meyers did in fact shoot the gun," lawyer Jeremy-Evan Alva said Wednesday. "It's a tragedy. Two families are absolutely destroyed over this."

Meyers, 18, was in protective custody when he was assaulted in the Criminal Justice Center holding cell, which held other inmates in protective custody, Alva said. Meyers was due in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on the homicide charge.

Alva had not yet seen his client and did not know his condition or the name of the hospital treating him.

Assistant District Attorney Gonen Haklay, who is handling the case, and office spokeswoman Cathie Abookire did not immediately return phone messages.

According to police, Law was bicycling with friends when a motorist pulled up behind them in South Philadelphia and began honking for them to get out of the way.

Law's four friends moved over, but Law stopped in front of the vehicle, got off his bike and moved to the passenger side of the car, according to police. He was killed with a single shot to the chest, police said.

Hundreds of people turned out on Tuesday for Law's funeral. He has been described as a well-mannered boy who had just finished seventh grade and was a member of his school's basketball team.

"It's not a whodunit," said Alva, who asked the community to keep an open mind about his client.

He said that Meyers was taking a passenger in his car to a hospital when the shooting occurred.

Meyers has not yet been arraigned or entered a plea to the charge, Alva said. The preliminary hearing was rescheduled for Sept. 12.

Philadelphia has had 234 murders so far this year, according to police.