Kaboni Savage
Drug-Related Mass Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TIME PERIOD
1998-2004
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Kaboni Savage, an American drug dealer and organized crime leader, was convicted for orchestrating the firebombing of a house in Philadelphia on October 9, 2004, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four children, as part of a scheme to eliminate a federal witness. Born on January 1, 1975, Savage was sentenced to death on June 3, 2013, becoming the first man from Philadelphia to receive a federal death sentence since the resumption of the federal death penalty in 1988. His criminal activities spanned from 1998 to 2004, during which he was involved in extensive drug trafficking and multiple murders in aid of racketeering. As of December 23, 2024, Savage's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole by President Joe Biden, and he is currently incarcerated at ADX Florence. Significant evidence against him included witness testimonies and documented communications that linked him to the orchestration of the firebombing and other violent acts.
Kaboni Savage is believed to have orchestrated the firebombing to eliminate witnesses against him, showing a ruthless approach to maintaining his drug empire. Some speculate that his extensive network and violent reputation may have protected him from law enforcement for longer than usual, allowing him to commit multiple crimes without immediate repercussions. Additionally, the commutation of his death sentence by President Biden has sparked debate about the fairness of capital punishment and the influence of political decisions on high-profile criminal cases.
The Rise and Fall of Kaboni Savage: A Tale of Crime, Retribution, and Justice
The Notorious Kaboni Savage
In the gritty streets of Philadelphia, a man named Kaboni Savage carved out a notorious legacy as a drug dealer, organized crime leader, and mass murderer. Born on January 1, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Savage's criminal empire eventually led him to become the first man from Philadelphia in modern history to receive a federal death sentence. His reign of terror included twelve convictions for murder in aid of racketeering, placing him just one conviction shy of the Pennsylvania state record. This grim tally made him the most convicted murderer in Philadelphia's history. His notoriety was further cemented when he became the first person condemned to death by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988. However, on December 23, 2024, his death sentence was commuted to life without parole by President Joe Biden, leaving a complex legacy behind.
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Kaboni Savage's journey into the underworld began in the streets of North Philadelphia. A former student of Frankford High School, he initially pursued boxing at the Front Street Gym, where he even won a professional fight. However, tragedy struck when his father succumbed to cancer, leaving 13-year-old Savage to navigate the harsh realities of life. By the late 1990s, Savage had entrenched himself deep in the drug trade, operating primarily in Hunting Park. Federal authorities estimated that from 1998 to 2004, he distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine throughout the Philadelphia area.
Savage's criminal activities were not limited to drug dealing. He was accused of murdering a stranger, Kenneth Lassiter, following a minor car accident. Although he was acquitted of the murder after the key witness, Tybius "Tib" Flowers, was also killed—an act Savage was suspected of ordering—his violent reputation only grew. Savage's criminal network extended to ordering the deaths of rivals, such as Carlton Brown, who was eliminated by hitman Lamont Lewis in 2001. His reign of intimidation and violence continued even while he was held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, where he threatened the families of witnesses against him.
The Firebombing
The most heinous act attributed to Savage was the firebombing of a rowhouse in North Philadelphia on October 9, 2004. This act of terror was ordered in retaliation against Eugene "Twin" Coleman, a former associate who had turned federal witness against Savage. The firebombing claimed the lives of six people, including four children, marking the deadliest mass murder in Philadelphia since the 2000 Lex Street murders. Among the victims were Coleman's 15-month-old son, Damir Jenkins, and three other children related to Coleman. Savage's sister, Kidada Savage, played a critical role in the plot, recruiting Lamont Lewis and his cousin, Robert "B.J." Merritt Jr., to carry out the attack.
The Trial and Sentencing
Held at the Federal Detention Center during his trial, Kaboni Savage faced the full weight of the law. In May 2013, after a grueling legal battle, he was convicted of 17 charges, including 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering. The jury recommended 13 death sentences, which were formally imposed by Judge Richard Barclay Surrick.
Savage's sister, Kidada, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment plus a consecutive ten-year term for her role in the firebombing and other crimes. Accomplice Robert Merritt received a life sentence, while Lamont Lewis, who cooperated with authorities, was sentenced to 40 years. Steven Northington, another associate, was spared the death penalty but received a life sentence.
A Legacy of Crime and Commutation
Savage's criminal activities spanned from 1998 to 2004, leaving a trail of violence and death in their wake. His conviction for the 2004 firebombing was just one part of his extensive criminal record, which included the murders of Kenneth Lassiter, Mansur Abdullah, Carlton Brown, Barry Parker, Tyrone Toliver, and Tybius Flowers. Despite his notorious past, on December 23, 2024, President Joe Biden commuted Savage's death sentence to life without parole, as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal death row.
Kaboni Savage remains incarcerated at ADX Florence in Colorado, serving as a reminder of the brutal impact of organized crime and the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement.
Sources
For detailed references and further reading, please visit the original Wikipedia article on Kaboni Savage.
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Drug Dealing Begins
Kaboni Savage starts his operations as a drug dealer in Hunting Park.
Firebombing Incident
Savage orders the firebombing of a house, killing six people, including four children.
Witness Arrested
Eugene Coleman, a key witness against Savage, is arrested and agrees to testify.
Trial Begins
Jury selection for Kaboni Savage's trial occurs.
Conviction
Savage is convicted of 17 charges, including 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Death Sentence
Kaboni Savage is sentenced to death for his crimes.
Sister Sentenced
Kidada Savage is sentenced to life in prison for her role in the crimes.
Sentence Commuted
President Biden commutes Savage's death sentence to life without parole.
Kaboni Savage, an American drug dealer and organized crime leader, was convicted for orchestrating the firebombing of a house in Philadelphia on October 9, 2004, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four children, as part of a scheme to eliminate a federal witness. Born on January 1, 1975, Savage was sentenced to death on June 3, 2013, becoming the first man from Philadelphia to receive a federal death sentence since the resumption of the federal death penalty in 1988. His criminal activities spanned from 1998 to 2004, during which he was involved in extensive drug trafficking and multiple murders in aid of racketeering. As of December 23, 2024, Savage's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole by President Joe Biden, and he is currently incarcerated at ADX Florence. Significant evidence against him included witness testimonies and documented communications that linked him to the orchestration of the firebombing and other violent acts.
Kaboni Savage is believed to have orchestrated the firebombing to eliminate witnesses against him, showing a ruthless approach to maintaining his drug empire. Some speculate that his extensive network and violent reputation may have protected him from law enforcement for longer than usual, allowing him to commit multiple crimes without immediate repercussions. Additionally, the commutation of his death sentence by President Biden has sparked debate about the fairness of capital punishment and the influence of political decisions on high-profile criminal cases.
The Rise and Fall of Kaboni Savage: A Tale of Crime, Retribution, and Justice
The Notorious Kaboni Savage
In the gritty streets of Philadelphia, a man named Kaboni Savage carved out a notorious legacy as a drug dealer, organized crime leader, and mass murderer. Born on January 1, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Savage's criminal empire eventually led him to become the first man from Philadelphia in modern history to receive a federal death sentence. His reign of terror included twelve convictions for murder in aid of racketeering, placing him just one conviction shy of the Pennsylvania state record. This grim tally made him the most convicted murderer in Philadelphia's history. His notoriety was further cemented when he became the first person condemned to death by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988. However, on December 23, 2024, his death sentence was commuted to life without parole by President Joe Biden, leaving a complex legacy behind.
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Kaboni Savage's journey into the underworld began in the streets of North Philadelphia. A former student of Frankford High School, he initially pursued boxing at the Front Street Gym, where he even won a professional fight. However, tragedy struck when his father succumbed to cancer, leaving 13-year-old Savage to navigate the harsh realities of life. By the late 1990s, Savage had entrenched himself deep in the drug trade, operating primarily in Hunting Park. Federal authorities estimated that from 1998 to 2004, he distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine throughout the Philadelphia area.
Savage's criminal activities were not limited to drug dealing. He was accused of murdering a stranger, Kenneth Lassiter, following a minor car accident. Although he was acquitted of the murder after the key witness, Tybius "Tib" Flowers, was also killed—an act Savage was suspected of ordering—his violent reputation only grew. Savage's criminal network extended to ordering the deaths of rivals, such as Carlton Brown, who was eliminated by hitman Lamont Lewis in 2001. His reign of intimidation and violence continued even while he was held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, where he threatened the families of witnesses against him.
The Firebombing
The most heinous act attributed to Savage was the firebombing of a rowhouse in North Philadelphia on October 9, 2004. This act of terror was ordered in retaliation against Eugene "Twin" Coleman, a former associate who had turned federal witness against Savage. The firebombing claimed the lives of six people, including four children, marking the deadliest mass murder in Philadelphia since the 2000 Lex Street murders. Among the victims were Coleman's 15-month-old son, Damir Jenkins, and three other children related to Coleman. Savage's sister, Kidada Savage, played a critical role in the plot, recruiting Lamont Lewis and his cousin, Robert "B.J." Merritt Jr., to carry out the attack.
The Trial and Sentencing
Held at the Federal Detention Center during his trial, Kaboni Savage faced the full weight of the law. In May 2013, after a grueling legal battle, he was convicted of 17 charges, including 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering. The jury recommended 13 death sentences, which were formally imposed by Judge Richard Barclay Surrick.
Savage's sister, Kidada, was also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment plus a consecutive ten-year term for her role in the firebombing and other crimes. Accomplice Robert Merritt received a life sentence, while Lamont Lewis, who cooperated with authorities, was sentenced to 40 years. Steven Northington, another associate, was spared the death penalty but received a life sentence.
A Legacy of Crime and Commutation
Savage's criminal activities spanned from 1998 to 2004, leaving a trail of violence and death in their wake. His conviction for the 2004 firebombing was just one part of his extensive criminal record, which included the murders of Kenneth Lassiter, Mansur Abdullah, Carlton Brown, Barry Parker, Tyrone Toliver, and Tybius Flowers. Despite his notorious past, on December 23, 2024, President Joe Biden commuted Savage's death sentence to life without parole, as part of a broader initiative to reduce federal death row.
Kaboni Savage remains incarcerated at ADX Florence in Colorado, serving as a reminder of the brutal impact of organized crime and the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement.
Sources
For detailed references and further reading, please visit the original Wikipedia article on Kaboni Savage.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Drug Dealing Begins
Kaboni Savage starts his operations as a drug dealer in Hunting Park.
Firebombing Incident
Savage orders the firebombing of a house, killing six people, including four children.
Witness Arrested
Eugene Coleman, a key witness against Savage, is arrested and agrees to testify.
Trial Begins
Jury selection for Kaboni Savage's trial occurs.
Conviction
Savage is convicted of 17 charges, including 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Death Sentence
Kaboni Savage is sentenced to death for his crimes.
Sister Sentenced
Kidada Savage is sentenced to life in prison for her role in the crimes.
Sentence Commuted
President Biden commutes Savage's death sentence to life without parole.