HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Philadelphia County jury has convicted a man in connection with a 2018 double homicide in Kensington.
Following a week-long trial, 38-year-old Mario Ramirez was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.
Ramirez faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on January 15, 2026.
The Office of Attorney General presented evidence that Ramirez, using an assault rifle, fatally shot Anthony Torres and Jose Vega outside a market at H and Thayer Streets.
“This verdict represents an important step toward justice for two young men whose lives were senselessly taken in a callous act of violence,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We hope this verdict and impending life sentence send a message that lawlessness will not be tolerated anywhere in the Commonwealth. This outcome reflects our continued commitment to working alongside law enforcement partners in the Philadelphia community and statewide.”
The case stems from an August 22, 2018, shooting outside the La Corona Market. Philadelphia police responded to reports of gunfire and found Torres and Vega on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. Torres was pronounced dead at the scene, and Vega later died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Surveillance video showed a gold Chevrolet Uplander driving around the area multiple times before the shooting occurred. The driver – identified as Ramirez – was seen exiting the vehicle, firing several shots and fleeing the scene.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Helen Park of the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Section.
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