SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A teenager who admitted to fatally shooting a man in South Philadelphia over a car was sentenced Thursday to at least a decade in prison.
Rasheed Banks Jr. was 15-years-old when shot and killed 50-year-old Michael Salerno in July 2023 over his Pontiac sedan.
Banks pleaded guilty in February to third degree murder, conspiracy, robbery of a motor vehicle and a gun offense. Three other firearm charges were dropped.
Police said Banks was one of three armed suspects who jumped out of a Red Kia Soul and tried to steal the car at 11th and Porter Streets in South Philadelphia. They said Salerno had a friend in the car at the time and was trying to protect her and fought back when he was shot.
Judge Charles Ehrlich sentenced Banks, now 17, to 10 to 25 years behind bars.
The two other suspects in the case were never arrested.