PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A woman accused of prompting a mass shooting that killed one person and injured five in the Logan neighborhood pleaded guilty to third-degree murder charges on Thursday before an emotional sentencing hearing.
Vanessa Singletary-Selby, 31, said she’s deeply remorseful for making a phone call that led to a death on Sept. 20, 2021. Prosecutors say a man she knew pistol-whipped her, and she got mad and called a friend, asking him to come “handle it.”
Instead, prosecutors say, someone showed up on the block, along Chew Avenue near 13th Street, and opened fire randomly, injuring five people and killing Steven Jones, a young father.
They said Singletary-Selby later boasted about the incident on social media.
Police are still looking for the shooter. Meanwhile, Singletary-Selby was charged in the incident and on Thursday, she pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy and several aggravated assault charges in a negotiated deal.
Her attorney outlined her life — mental health issues, intermittent drug abuse, and several deaths in her life from gun violence, including her brother and friends.
Attorneys say some of Singletary-Selby’s own friends were shot in the 2021 incident.
In the sentencing hearing that followed, Jones’ heartbroken father read portions of the Bible and told the judge he is the one who should be in a grave instead of his son. He called Jones the biggest blessing in his life and said his son’s family continues to struggle because he was the provider.
Jones’ fiancée wrote a letter to the judge, expressing her love for the dedicated father of two, who she said was deeply religious and always there for everyone.
Judge Charles Ehrlich lamented the surge of gun violence in the city, saying senseless violence has become a typical story in the city: Someone sprays a block with bullets, and innocent people are killed. He expressed his own remorse to Jones’ family and loved ones.
Singletary-Selby turned to the family and apologized directly. Then the judge accepted a plea deal of 5 to 10 years.
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