Prosecutors say police were monitoring Khalif Moore in late October, but he noticed them and took off — first on foot, and then he jumped into a car. Blocks later, at Seventh and Berks streets, they say he struck and killed 26-year-old Michael Canals, a Drexel graduate who was working for the new Met Philadelphia venue.
Canals was walking his beloved dog, Rosie, who was also killed.
Weeks later, officers caught up with 34-year-old Moore, who ran to the basement of a house, they say, and struggled when arrested.
Moore waived his hearing on charges of murder, homicide by vehicle and cruelty to animals. His defense attorney asked the charges be downgraded to third-degree murder, and for Moore to be placed on house arrest after posting bail.
Prosecutors argued against it, considering several drug and gun convictions — and that fact that he fled from police. Prosecutors called him an obvious “danger to the public,” to which the judge agreed.
Moore remains in prison. His formal arraignment is scheduled for February.
Canals’ loved ones exhaled an audible sigh of relief and hugged each other, in tears, as the judge ruled.