PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The teenager who robbed and killed a young Philadelphia father on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line two years ago was sentenced Friday morning in an emotional hearing.
The room was filled with sobs and sniffles as the mother of Rasheed Born turned to the family of Semaj Cherry, giving a tearful and heartfelt apology for what her then 16-year-old son did on Nov. 7, 2022 — robbed and shot 21-year-old Cherry 11 times as he rode on the Broad Street Line, near the Fairmount stop, to get a second job to help his family.
Wrecked with grief and despair, Cherry’s mother and grandmother cried while speaking about how he was a quiet, loving gamer who wore glasses and never got in trouble, adding that his fatherless 4-year-old daughter now has pretend tea parties with her dad.
Born’s mother got up and turned to the family in tears, apologizing for what her son did to them, and said she thinks of them all the time. She said Born “was trying to find love in the wrong places, but he is not a monster.” Prosecutors credit her for turning in her son to authorities and making him tell them the truth.
Prosecutors say Born was arrested twice before as a teen on theft charges, but those were eventually withdrawn. He was caught with an 8-inch shiv in prison after being stabbed.
Born pleaded guilty in June to third-degree murder, robbery and related offenses. He apologized to the family and court.
Judge Barbara McDermott berated Born, calling the murder “deliberate and intentional,” saying he sought out a smaller target and acted with a “sophistication” she has rarely seen before. She then sentenced him to 17 to 34 years in prison, adding that he is not getting more because of his age.