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A Point Breeze man was sentenced to life behind bars for killing a man outside of an area bar three years ago.
The jury convicted Jamal Ali, 32, of the 1700 block of Reed Street, in a five-day trial that ended July 20 with guilty verdicts for first-degree murder of Rasheed Rose and possession of an instrument of crime.
“It’s definitely a targeted killing,” Assistant District Attorney Brendan O’Malley said. “We weren’t able to establish any sort of motive. We weren’t able to present one to the jury.”
Even so, the jury returned a guilty verdict after 45 minutes of deliberation thanks to a “strong 911 tape” and eyewitness accounts, O’Malley said.
“A [witness] actually called 911, which is really rare in the city, and there were eyewitnesses at the scene, which is also rare,” he said.
Rose frequented New Hot Spot Bar, 1400 S. 21st St., O’Malley said. When he walked out of the establishment, which has since closed and has become a takeout store, at 10:14 p.m. June 8, 2009, Ali fired 20 shots, including three directly into his left temple.
He was transported to HUP with wounds to his head and legs, but was pronounced dead at 10:33 p.m., according to police.
Ali was arrested at 10:42 p.m. that night on the 2100 block of Mifflin Street driving a car witnesses described the shooter hopping into at the scene after shooting Rose.
Since ‘00, Ali was found guilty of charges stemming from four 17th District crimes including two drug incidents, a simple assault and criminal mischief, according to court records. He served varying probation sentences in addition to a six-to-23-month jail sentence for a drug charge.
Ali felt no guilt over his the accusations against him, O’Malley said.
“He testified incredibly that he didn’t have anything to do with the shooting, that he wasn’t there and was not remorseful in any shape or form,” he said.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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