A man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the death of a Philadelphia steakhouse chef prosecutors say he intentionally killed during a drug-fueled, hit-and-run spree that caused injuries and damage in two counties. Kareem Welton, 43, also pleaded guilty Friday in Montgomery County Court to attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and robbery of a motor vehicle in the violent predawn 2021 joyride that started in Philadelphia’s Center City and ended 30 miles away in neighboring Montgomery County. Prosecutors dropped a first-degree murder charge in exchange for the plea, which does not include any agreement on sentencing.
According to authorities, Welton stole a car that was left running by a woman in July 2021 and then went to a family friend’s home and stole a 5-year-old poodle. He then hit two people on a motorcycle and struck and killed 31-year-old Adriana Moreno-Sanchez as she walked home from her restaurant shift. The car hopped the curb and struck Moreno-Sanchez, and then made a U-turn to hit her a second time. Welton briefly stopped to steal a jacket from the injured victim before driving off, striking more cars and people, and eventually abandoning the car. He later unsuccessfully tried to pull a woman from a vehicle before stealing another car and hitting a bicyclist on the way.
Welton was eventually spotted in Collegeville, where he deliberately swerved into oncoming traffic to hit and critically injure a jogger. He was arrested after pulling into a Trappe gas station and attempting to take a bicycle from a man standing nearby. A toxicology screen revealed that Welton had marijuana and PCP in his system at the time of the assaults.
Both the third-degree murder and attempted murder charges carry maximum sentences of 20 to 40 years in prison. The assistant district attorney, Roderick McCord Fancher III, stated that he would seek significant prison time, including consecutive terms, to account for each victim of this rampage. Fancher emphasized the impact of Welton’s actions, stating that innocent people going about their day were seriously affected by him.
Montgomery County authorities prosecuted all charges, including the fatal hit-and-run that occurred in Philadelphia, using a state law. Welton’s defense attorney has not provided a comment on the case.
