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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Life for Deadly Firebombing
Robert Merritt, 34, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oct. 9, 2004, retaliatory firebombing that killed six members of a federal witness’s family, including four children.
The firebombing occurred at the home of Eugene Coleman, a federal witness who had testified against convicted drug kingpin Kaboni Savage. Merritt and his cousin, Lamont Lewis, threw two gas cans with lit cloth fuses into the occupied Philadelphia row house in the predawn hours, killing six people, including four children ranging in age from 15 months to 15 years.
Kaboni Savage, the mastermind behind the firebombing, was sentenced to death for 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering. His wife, Kadida Savage, was sentenced to life in prison. Lamont Lewis, who pleaded guilty before trial, is awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Maple Shade, New Jersey, Police Department. The United States Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshals Service, and the Philadelphia/Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force also assisted in the investigation.
Prosecutors said Merritt threw the gas can with the lit cloth fuse, and then a second gas can, into the occupied Philadelphia row house. Evidence presented at trial showed that Merritt was acting at the direction of Kaboni Savage.
U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick imposed the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Steve Mellin of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David E. Troyer and John M. Gallagher of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Hanko of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division made the announcement.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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