Man pleads guilty in 2017 fatal beating of Z-trip cab driver, gets 19 to 38 years in prison

The defense attorney for King Edwards told the court that his client has no criminal record, is remorseful and that he fully cooperated with law enforcement in their prosecution of the men responsible for the beating death of a Somali cab driver in Beltzhoover in 2017.

Edwards even went so far as to testify for six hours against one of his co-defendants at trial in 2019.

For all those circumstances, defense attorney Chris Capozzi argued Tuesday, his client should get a break on sentencing.

He asked the court to sentence Edwards, who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery and conspiracy, to a standard range prison term of six years’ incarceration.

But Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Elliot Howsie told Edwards that he’d already gotten a benefit by being allowed to plead to the lesser homicide charge, especially given that one co-defendant, Daniel Russell, was found guilty of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole.

“The break you got is that you’re not looking at a life sentence,” Howsie said. “Actions create consequences, and you have to be accountable.”

He ordered Edwards to serve a total of 19 to 38 years in state prison to be followed by five years of probation. The maximum possible penalty for third-degree murder is 20 to 40 years.

Edwards, who testified at Russell’s trial in 2019, was one of four men charged in the Feb. 21, 2017, attack of Ramadhan Mohamed.

Mohamed, a 31-year-old Somali refugee, was working as a Z-trip cab driver when Russell ordered a ride about 2 a.m. to pick him up on Climax Street in Beltzhoover.

Russell, along with Christen Glenn and Hosea Moore were at Edwards’ home nearby. They planned to rob the driver dispatched to the call, Edwards testified then.

When the driver arrived, Edwards and Russell got in the back seat to distract him. Then Moore opened the driver’s side door and punched Mohamed in the face.

Moore and Glenn then dragged him out of the car, and the four of them punched and kicked Mohamed.

Although the beating stopped at one point, and Mohamed was left sitting up in the grass, Russell returned a short time later and resumed kicking him.

Eventually, Mohamed was so badly injured that he stopped moving and was left moaning on the ground.

The men moved him, and ultimately, Edwards’ mother called an ambulance. Mohamed died three days later of blunt force trauma.

Kimberly Edwards testified briefly on her son’s behalf. She told the court that she struggled with drugs throughout her son’s youth.

“I wasn’t the best mom, and I know that,” she said. “If I could go back, I would change who I was in his life.”

When given the chance to speak at Tuesday’s hearing, King Edwards apologized to Mohamed’s family.

“There’s really no explaining it,” he said. “Forgiveness is the only thing I’m really looking forward to.”

“Mr. Edwards, have you forgiven yourself for what occurred?” Capozzi asked.

“Not yet,” the defendant replied.

But Howsie appeared to be unmoved by Edwards’ statement.

“The thing I struggle with the most: He lost his life over something you and your friends wouldn’t do, trying to make a living to care for his family,” Howsie said. “It was just easier to take his money than go earn your own.”

Howsie then read Edwards’ Facebook posts from the day after the attack in which he bragged about beating someone up the previous night. Edwards claimed they were written about another fight that evening.

“Not only was it intentional, but you were bragging about it,” Howsie countered.

“You got to understand the environment where I live,” Edwards said.

Howsie told Edwards that he grew up in Wilkinsburg, and the he did understand.

The judge told Edwards to envision his neighborhood where everyone got up in the morning and went to work.

“Think about how that neighborhood would look,” the judge said. “It would be way different.

“It’s offensive. This man lost his life working and trying to provide for his family.”

Deputy District Attorney Ilan Zur told Howsie that Mohamed’s death is the most brutal homicide he’s handled during his time as a prosecutor.

Zur also read from a letter submitted to the court by Mohamed’s family, who lives in Wisconsin.

“Ramadhan came to the United States as a refugee seeking safety and a better life,” they wrote.

They called him a sweet and humble man who was a good provider for his children.

They asked for the maximum sentence for Edwards.

“Our family is forever and truly broken,” they wrote. “How much compassion did they have at the decision to murder Ramadhan?”

Glenn, 24, is scheduled for trial in September. Moore, 25, is expected to plead guilty to robbery and conspiracy, but there is no agreement as to sentencing.