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Police charge 2 men in fatal Philly carjacking

By WTOP Staff

MARYCLAIRE DALE
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two men who carjacked a woman and sexually assaulted her in her SUV before plowing into a family selling fruit on a street corner, killing three children, were charged with murder on Monday, police said.

Johnathan Rosa and Cornelius Crawford were each charged with three counts of felony murder and other crimes, police announced at a news conference. Police said they believe Rosa, 19, and Crawford, 23, forced a real estate agent into her sport utility vehicle on Friday, then took off at high speed.

The three children, killed by the SUV crash about 15 minutes later, were siblings who had been selling fruit for a church fundraiser. Their mother was injured in the crash, as were a friend who was nearby and the carjacked real estate agent.

Police said that what Rosa and Crawford did “was indefensible and unforgiveable.”

“Whatever remorse they may or may not have does not bring back these three children,” Police Homicide Capt. James Clark said Monday.

The arrests and charges capped a three-day manhunt by police, who received help from businesses offering security footage and people calling in tips about the Friday morning carjacking.

Police ultimately were led to the suspects, though, by Rosa’s cellphone, which was found in the back of the stolen Toyota 4Runner.

Rosa told police on Saturday that his phone had been stolen, and he was released. However, he turned himself in a day later, his lawyer said, after he saw photographs of the dead children in a newspaper.

“He can’t get the image of the girl flying over the hood of the SUV out of his mind,” defense lawyer Christopher Warren said.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, has offered to pay for the children’s funerals, officials said.

The SUV accident occurred about a mile from the carjacking site. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle speeding through the intersection, then children lying motionless on the ground.

Keiearra Williams, 15, and her brothers, Thomas Reed, 10, and Terrence Moore, 7, were killed. Their mother, Keisha Williams, 34, was still hospitalized Monday, as were her friend and the carjacking victim.

Rosa said Crawford was driving very fast and out of control and a tire blew while he was trying to turn, Clark said, referring to Rosa’s police statement.

Warren maintained that Rosa got in the vehicle after Crawford carjacked it, a decision he said the teen would long regret. He said Rosa is now cooperating with police.

Police officials, though, said both men had carjacked the real estate agent as she left a house showing in north Philadelphia.

Crawford had recently been released from prison after serving about five years for robbery. He was in custody Monday and could not be reached for comment. He did not have a lawyer in the case.

Crawford and Rosa had known each other only a few days when Crawford noticed the woman driving down the street and decided to carjack her, Warren said.

Police initially said the woman was forced into the backseat at gunpoint. Warren, however, said he believed Rosa’s cellphone may have been wrapped up in a T-shirt and brandished like a weapon. Prosecutors confirmed there was no weapon charge in the case.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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