Man Sentenced For Role In Shootout That Injured 5
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Citing the senseless violence that "makes my head spin," a Philadelphia judge sentenced a 23-year-old man to 10-20 years in prison for his role in a shootout that left 5 people, all innocent bystanders, wounded.
They have recovered.
It happened outside the J Street Café on East Erie Avenue early New Year's Eve morning in 2011.
Defendant Ivan Rosario fired first and, although the 40 caliber bullets he fired didn't hit anyone, five people went down in the return fire.
But because he initiated the gunfire, and gets no break for being a bad shot, prosecutor Morgan Vedejs says Rosario is responsible for the crime that was caught on tape.
"You could actually see him raise his hand and you can see him firing his weapon. You can then see flashes of light coming from the direction to where he shot," Vedejs explains.
Lamenting the rampant violence involving young people in the city, Judge Glynnis Hill told Rosario that people want to think they are in the wild, Wild West and be macho and they think that it is adding to their persona, but it's not, it's just senseless violence.
The other gunman, who was not seen on tape and fired after he was fired upon, pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced to three to six years in prison.
