Kaboni Savage

History

Savage, a former student of Frankford High School, began boxing at the Front Street Gym in North Philadelphia. He had one professional boxing fight, which he won.

Savage began his operations as a drug dealer in Hunting Park and became a higher-level dealer.

Authorities accused Savage of personally killing a stranger, Kenneth Lassiter, after Lassiter's car bumped into Savage's while the two were trying to park their respective cars. threatening to kill children of those who testified against him. Savage was convicted of multiple charges, including money laundering, witness intimidation, and drug offenses. Savage was imprisoned in a federal facility near Florence, Colorado.

Savage's daughter, Ciara "CeCe" Savage, a student at Ross Elementary School, died at age 9 during a gang shooting in York, Pennsylvania on Mothers Day, 2009. The shooter, Nigel Maitland, was convicted of first degree murder for her death and was sentenced to life in prison. Police and Jasmine Vadell, Ciara's mother, said the shooting was unrelated to Savage's gang activities in Philadelphia. Vadell had raised Ciara alone and had not been romantically involved with Savage for years. In March 2003, after Coleman murdered his friend, 26-year-old Tyrone Toliver of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, At the time, Savage was in custody at FDC Philadelphia. it was the deadliest mass murder in Philadelphia since the Lex Street murders in 2000.

After learning that Eugene had been temporarily released from prison to attend the funeral of his relatives, a bug in Savage's cell recorded him remarking "They should stop off and get him some barbecue sauce … pour it on them burnt bitches."

Savage's sister, Kidada Savage, known as "Da" or "Lil' Sis", the hitman. Kidada Savage showed the hitman where the house was located. Lewis said that both he and Merritt tossed cans into the house. The prosecution sought death sentences for Kaboni Savage, Merritt, and Northington.

Jury selection for Savage's trial occurred in September 2012. Lamont Lewis served as the star witness, The trial ended in May 2013.

In June 2013, Savage was given 13 death sentences, one for witness intimidation and one each for a total of 12 racketeering murders, including those from the retaliatory firebombing. The sentences were formally pronounced by Judge Richard Barclay Surrick.

Savage, Federal Bureau of Prisons #58232-066, is currently incarcerated in ADX Florence near Florence, Colorado.

In May 2013, Kidada Savage was convicted of various crimes, including retaliating against witnesses and aiding racketeering. In February 2014, Surrick imposed a sentence of life imprisonment plus a consecutive ten-year sentence; the life sentence was mandatory. Kidada Savage tried to delay the sentencing but Surrick denied the request. After the jury spared his life, Northington received a life sentence. He became BOP #58967-066 and went to USP Coleman I.

Due to his cooperation, Lewis was given a 40-year sentence, the minimum allowed under his plea agreement.

As an example of Lewis's remorsefulness, Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Gallagher shared a chat he had overheard between Lewis and a detective. During a break in a meeting with investigators, Lewis said he was going to hell for what he'd done. The detective told Lewis he couldn't know that since God was forgiving. Lewis replied that he'd been raised in church, saying "There is no redemption for me."

In an earlier interview, Lewis said he and Merritt had believed only Coleman's mother and brother were home, and were shocked after learning how many people were killed in the firebombing. "We both were really messed up about what happened," he said.

On December 23, 2024, Savage's federal death sentence was commuted to life without parole after outgoing President Joe Biden granted sentence commutations to 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row.