New Murder Charges In High-Speed Crime Spree Through Philly, Montco: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Philadelphia man whose cross-county high-speed crime spree in the summer of 2021 left one person dead and others injured is now facing murder and other charges in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County prosecutors announced Tuesday that they have charged Kareem Welton, 41, of Philadelphia, with murder, attempted murder and other charges relating to his alleged hours-long criminal activity between July 27 and 28, 2021.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said he had reached an agreement with the office Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to prosecute Welton, since the defendant's actions were part of the same overarching "criminal episode."

Prosecutors said it all began on July 27, 2021, when Welton attempted to rob a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Public Safety Officer of her bicycle and then proceeded to Brambrey Terrace where Welton stole a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.

Welton then stole a 5-year-old Meltese Poodle mix from the 6100 block of Glenmore Street in the city.

From there, Welton proceeded down Broad Street, where he struck a motorcycle, injuring two people, and then drove on to 15th Street where he hopped onto the sidewalk and struck and injured one individual while striking and killing Adrina Moreno-Sanchez, according to the D.A.'s Office.

Welton then abandoned the Chevy Malibu, unsuccessfully attempted to steal one vehicle, and then ended up stealing a 2021 Nissan, which he used to drive down Umbria Street in Northwest Philadelphia and strike and injure a bicyclist.

Welton subsequently drove into Montgomery County, where he struck and severely injured a jogger in Collegeville before he was ultimately stopped by police and taken into custody shortly after 6 a.m. on July 28, according to the D.A.'s Office.

"Welton's criminal behavior left many individuals and families traumatized and grieving," Montgomery County D.A. Steele said in a statement. "We will prosecute all of his crimes together to accurately portray the egregiousness of this crime spree."

Welton, who has been held in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail since his July 2021 arrest, was arraigned on the charges Monday by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Lukens Griffis.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 26 before Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar.

Welton faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, attempted robbery of a motor vehicle, accidents involving death or injury and other counts.