Teens will be tried as adults for murder

Officials gathering evidence The five teenagers accused of murdering fifth-year Mathematics graduate student Al-Moez Alimohamed will be tried as adults, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office spokesperson Bill Devol said yesterday. Alimohamed, 27, was murdered last Monday night as he was walking home to his apartment near 48th and Pine streets. Although juvenile criminal offenders are usually released from prison at age 21, juveniles tried as adults can receive full prison sentences, Devol said. Eighteen-year-old Antoine Saunders, two fifteen-year-olds and two sixteen-year-olds have been charged with murder, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime, according to Philadelphia Police Sergeant Paul Musi. All the men are from West Philadelphia. Carole Weiner, chief of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Juvenile Unit, said she considers the decision to try the five as adults a sound one because "there are kids coming into [the juvenile] system who don't belong here." "The juvenile system was not designed for kids firing Tech-9's," she said. The teens allegedly first robbed and beat Alimohamed. Saunders then allegedly shot him with a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle. Alimohamed was pronounced dead on arrival at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania shortly after the shooting. Plainclothes officers from the Philadelphia Police Department's 18th District witnessed the robbery, but were not quick enough to stop the shooting, Musi said. According to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, all of the five teenagers have extensive juvenile criminal records, including robbery, aggravated assault, carrying a gun on school property, and witness intimidation. In response to the homicide, University and city officials held a press conference at the 18th District Police Mini-Station at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue last Thursday. At the conference, University President Judith Rodin characterized the murder as "a tragic event." "We are concerned about the safety of our students," Rodin said to an audience of about 40 reporters and residents from the immediate neighborhood. "[Violent crime] is a West Philadelphia problem, but a problem that affects the whole city." Rodin said she does not expect outrage from parents because "parents have already confronted the fact that cities can be unsafe." She added that she is "grateful" to City Mayor Edward Rendell and the Philadelphia Police Department for responding so quickly to the incident. Deputy Police Commissioner Tom Seamon said extra units from all over the city would be brought into West Philadelphia to try to alleviate concerns over rising crime. Seamon said his department usually moves more police into the area surrounding the University during the academic year. He added that Philadelphia Police officers work closely with University Police to prevent and respond to crime in the area. Seamon characterized the homicide as a "senseless, random act of violence." Police officials said they have a fairly solid case against the suspects. "I think we have our case ready, and we're ready to proceed with it," said John Apeldorn, Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit Captain. "It's just a tragedy, and hopefully everyone will pay for their part in it." Although the teens were scheduled to have their preliminary hearings yesterday, the date was pushed back to September 28. Devol said this is due in part to the fact that the defendants had not secured adequate legal representation. If the suspects are bound over for trial, they will be formally arraigned within 10 days. At that time, they will have the opportunity to plead innocent or guilty. A trial date will then be set, Devol said, but that may not be for months.