Biden Commutes Death Sentence For Killer Of Lansdale Man

LANSDALE, PA — The killer of a Lansdale man in 1998 is among the individuals on death row who had their sentences commuted by President Joe Biden on Monday, the White House announced.

Lansdale's Kenneth Lassiter, 44, was one of 12 people killed by Philadelphia drug kingpin Kaboni Savage. Savage was sentenced to death in 2013 for the murders.

Biden announcement Monday downgraded Savage's sentence to life imprisonment. His announcement comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.

Savage's drug enterprise operated primarily in the North Philadelphia area from at least late 1997 to 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. After Savage was indicted on drug charges in 2004, he ordered the murders of the family of government witness Eugene Coleman. An associate of Savage's firebombed the Coleman family home on Savage's orders.

Savage killed Lassiter on March 19, 1998, near the corner of 8th and Butler Streets in Philadelphia.

Police said the murder occurred because Lassiter, who was a barber, bumped into the fender of Savage's car as he was parking, according to police. Savage demanded money, but there was no actual damage, and when Lassiter refused, Savage pulled out a gun and shot him, authorities said.