A man involved in a deadly carjacking that ended with a mother and her three children being run down along a Philadelphia street apologized in court to the victim's family.
At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Jonathan Rosa told the family of Keisha Williams that he was remorseful and asking for forgiveness for the crash that killed the 34-year-old Tioga woman, her two sons and teenage daughter, according to courtroom witnesses.
Rosa made the comments after he waived any objection to the court proceeding -- setting the stage for the murder case to move forward.
The 19-year-old told police he and an acquaintance, 23-year-old Cornelius Crawford, carjacked a realtor near 6th and Cumberland Streets on July 25. Police said they then sped through the neighborhood, in the woman's Toyota SUV, before losing control of the truck at Germantown and Allegheny Avenues.
The SUV ran down Williams and her children -- 15-year-old Keiearra Williams, 10-year-old Joseph Thomas Reed and 7-year-old Terrence Moore -- as they sold fruit to raise money for the construction of a playground. The children died within minutes. The mother remained in a coma for two weeks until passing away last Thursday.
A family friend was also hit by the car and suffered a broken ankle. The realtor, who was trapped in the truck, was also hurt when the SUV slammed into a tree. Investigators say the woman was also sexually assaulted by the men before the crash.
Prosecutors charged both Rosa and Crawford with 2nd Degree Murder, Conspiracy and other crimes.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Rosa's attorney, Chris Warren, said the man had just learned about Keisha Williams' death minutes before the court proceedings.
The conspiracy charges against Rosa were withdrawn during Wednesday's court proceedings, according to court records. The murder charges remain.
The preliminary hearing for Crawford was continued until October 21.
Rosa is next due in court for a formal arraignment on September 3.
