Local Man Sentenced to Life Behind Bars for 2018 Double Homicide in Kensington
A Philadelphia man has been handed down two consecutive life sentences for the fatal shooting of two people on a Kensington street corner nearly eight years ago. Mario Ramirez, 38, was convicted last October of killing Jose Vega, 38, and Anthony Torres, 23, outside the La Corona Market at H and Thayer streets in August 2018.
The victims died after Ramirez exited his vehicle and opened fire on them with an assault rifle around 7pm that evening. Witnesses reported seeing a gold Chevrolet Uplander driving in the area shortly before the shooting occurred. Ramirez was identified as the driver, while his passenger has not been charged in connection to the crime, despite being seen firing shots.
The family of one of the victims delivered a heart-wrenching impact statement during the sentencing hearing. "There's a void that cannot be filled," said Torres' family members. "We are broken. With his passing, life just feels empty with nothing to look forward to. His children left without a father, parents without a son, two siblings left without a brother."
Ramirez was arrested in March 2023 and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. Following a week-long trial, he was convicted and sentenced to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole by a Philadelphia County judge.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said that the sentencing brings closure for the victims' families and friends, who had been grieving for years without knowing their loved ones' killer had been held accountable. "For several years, the victims' families and friends have grieved without knowing their loved ones' killer was held accountable," said Attorney General Dave Sunday in a statement. "We hope this sentencing brings them a measure of justice."
A Philadelphia man has been handed down two consecutive life sentences for the fatal shooting of two people on a Kensington street corner nearly eight years ago. Mario Ramirez, 38, was convicted last October of killing Jose Vega, 38, and Anthony Torres, 23, outside the La Corona Market at H and Thayer streets in August 2018.
The victims died after Ramirez exited his vehicle and opened fire on them with an assault rifle around 7pm that evening. Witnesses reported seeing a gold Chevrolet Uplander driving in the area shortly before the shooting occurred. Ramirez was identified as the driver, while his passenger has not been charged in connection to the crime, despite being seen firing shots.
The family of one of the victims delivered a heart-wrenching impact statement during the sentencing hearing. "There's a void that cannot be filled," said Torres' family members. "We are broken. With his passing, life just feels empty with nothing to look forward to. His children left without a father, parents without a son, two siblings left without a brother."
Ramirez was arrested in March 2023 and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. Following a week-long trial, he was convicted and sentenced to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole by a Philadelphia County judge.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said that the sentencing brings closure for the victims' families and friends, who had been grieving for years without knowing their loved ones' killer had been held accountable. "For several years, the victims' families and friends have grieved without knowing their loved ones' killer was held accountable," said Attorney General Dave Sunday in a statement. "We hope this sentencing brings them a measure of justice."
. two lives lost and a family torn apart by senseless violence 
. it's crazy how much pain one person can cause to so many people 
. i'm glad the system worked in this case and the killer got held accountable 
. but ugh, who gets to live with that kind of guilt for the rest of their life? 
my thoughts are with the families of the victims, esp jose's kids - poor kids lost a dad way too early 
... seems suspicious to me that the passenger wasn't charged 
... maybe there's more to it than meets the eye? 
I mean, two life sentences is harsh enough but adding a third person into the mix raises some red flags in my book 
. what if this was all just a setup for something bigger? 
. Two life sentences is a harsh punishment, but I suppose it's fair considering the severity of the crime 
. I'm just hoping that this sentence brings some peace of mind to those who lost loved ones that day 
. And can we all take a moment to appreciate the gold Chevrolet Uplander? Just kidding, not funny at all 
. Seriously though, I hope Ramirez serves every last day of his sentence with no chance of parole 
.
. Eight years is way too long to wait for justice, especially when you consider how traumatic this event must have been for everyone involved 
.
. Anyway, let's hope this sentence brings a measure of peace for the family and friends of Jose and Anthony 
.
i was talking to my cousin who knew one of the victims, and it broke her heart listening to their family's story 
they're still grieving all these years later, it's not fair 
anyway, good job justice being served, but you gotta feel for the victims' families and friends who've been living with this uncertainty for so long 
. it's not about being optimistic or pessimistic, it's just a fact that we live in a world where bad things happen and sometimes there aren't any easy answers 
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... just more proof that the system is broken.