HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a man convicted of killing two men on a crowded Philadelphia street corner in 2018 was recently sentenced to serve consecutive life-in-prison terms.
Mario Ramirez, 38, exited a vehicle and opened fire, with an assault rifle, outside a corner market on H and Thayer streets, killing 38-year-old Jose Vega and 23-year-old Anthony Torres. Several other people were in the area, including two young children: Torres’ son who was riding a toy scooter, and his two-year old brother.
The Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force secured trial convictions in October 2025, with the jury returning guilty verdicts to two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and related offenses.
The 47th Investigating Statewide Grand Jury led to charges being filed in the shootings.
“For several years, the victims’ families and friends have grieved without knowing their loved ones’ killer was held accountable. We hope this sentencing brings them a measure of justice,” Attorney General Sunday said. “The devoted investigators of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit and prosecutors, along with the grand jurors, and trial jurors, assured that this callous, cold-blooded murderer will never again pose a threat to our communities.”
Survivors of both men who were killed attended the sentencing hearing, including Vega’s daughter who said her father was “always there” for her.
Torres’ family provided a victim impact statement describing their loss, stating: “There’s a void that cannot be filled. 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.”
According to testimony, on August 22, 2018, at just before 7 p.m., Ramirez exited a vehicle and opened fire near La Corona Market, on the corner of H and Thayer Streets. Torres died at the scene; Vega died at an area hospital.
Police found dozens of shell casings on the street and sidewalk.
A second man who was in the vehicle with Ramirez and fired shots has not been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Helen Park.
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