MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A man from Philadelphia received a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Thursday for the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Richard A. Edwards Jr. in Upper Darby in April 2021.
Antonio Kelly, 21, was also handed a consecutive sentence of 352 to 884 months for an armed carjacking that occurred two days before the murder.
Kelly, residing in the 2600 block of North 24th Street, was convicted of Edwards’ killing on the night of April 9 in the 7200 block of Ruskin Lane.
In addition to the murder charge, Kelly was found guilty of robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, conspiracy, and firearms offenses. However, he was acquitted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges.
Carjacking Incident on April 7
The carjacking incident occurred on April 7 on the 7800 block of Westview Avenue in Upper Darby. The victim reported that while warming up his blue Volkswagen Jetta around 5 a.m., two individuals approached him and stole his vehicle at gunpoint.
Detective Leo Hanshaw from Upper Darby mentioned that video footage of the carjacking depicted one of the perpetrators wearing a puffy jacket. A similar-looking individual in a comparable coat was observed in court-presented video footage from the night of the murder.
Further video evidence showed the same blue Jetta moving around the vicinity, along with two men walking in an alley behind Galloway’s Pub and the 7200 block of Guilford Road, leading to the location on Ruskin where the shooting transpired.
Although the shooting itself was not captured on video, the victim can be seen crossing the 7200 block of Ruskin, trailed by two men, one of whom wore the puffy jacket, around 3:10 a.m.
Subsequently, the two men hurried back down the alley a few minutes later, with the individual in the puffy coat seemingly carrying something by his side. The Jetta was then observed departing the area on Long Lane.
Assistant District Attorney Sophia Polites played a distressing 911 call made by Edwards, where he reported being shot and in need of help. In the call, Edwards mentioned that he was being robbed by two men.
Discovery of Firearm and Arrest
Edwards succumbed to two gunshot wounds as per the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s report.
Detective Louis Grandizio from the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division established that two 9 mm fired cartridge casings recovered at the scene were discharged from the same weapon. However, the specific firearm corresponding to the casings was not initially identified.
In November 2021, Upper Darby police uncovered a cache of firearms during a raid on a residence in the 200 block of McKinley Avenue. Among the firearms seized, a 9 mm Luger was determined to be the weapon used in Edwards’ killing.
Two individuals, a 47-year-old father and his 20-year-old son, both named Terrance Hayward, were arrested during the raid. They faced charges related to receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and various firearms and conspiracy offenses. Notably, they were not implicated in Edwards’ death.
Defendant’s Involvement
Kelly was identified as a suspect through surveillance footage from a convenience store on the 400 block of Long Lane.
The footage captured two men exiting the stolen Jetta and entering the store in the early hours of April 16, one of them sporting a puffy jacket. Upon removing their masks inside the store, Kelly was positively recognized as the individual in the puffy jacket by a Philadelphia juvenile probation officer.
Kelly was apprehended on June 22, 2022, at his residence on North 24th Street in Philadelphia. During an interview with Hanshaw, Kelly admitted to being the person in the surveillance images wearing the puffy jacket but shifted the blame to another individual named “Terrance” as the actual shooter.
While the younger Hayward from the November raid was confirmed to be the person referenced by Kelly in his statement, the investigation into Kelly’s accomplice remains ongoing.
Impact on Victim’s Family
During the sentencing hearing, friends and family of the victim shared heartfelt tributes, portraying Edwards as a compassionate and helpful individual known for his goodwill and kindness.
Edwards’ mother, Regina Walter, expressed profound grief over the loss of her son, emphasizing the devastating impact of his untimely and violent death.
In contrast, Kelly’s family members defended his character, asserting his innocence and highlighting his positive traits.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Kelly was convicted by the jury. Judge Amoroso, while acknowledging Kelly’s legal right to appeal, expressed astonishment at his lack of remorse following the conviction.
Amoroso emphasized the gravity of the crime, particularly underscored by Edwards’ composed demeanor during the 911 call, addressing the operator respectfully even in distress.
In conclusion, Kelly was sentenced for his crimes, with additional legal proceedings pending for related charges.