Man convicted of third-degree murder in 2024 fatal beating in North Philadelphia

A man was found guilty of third-degree murder in a 2024 fatal beating in North Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Monday.

Darien Ramsey, 62, was convicted in connection with the beating that killed 55-year-old Mark Jennings, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Authorities said police responded to a report of a person with a weapon on the 2700 block of North Ringgold Street at about 6 p.m. Feb. 1, 2024. When officers arrived, they found Ramsey, who matched a preliminary description, and arrested him on an outstanding probation warrant, prosecutors said.

During the arrest, medics tended to Jennings, who was unconscious on a nearby sidewalk. Jennings was diagnosed with bleeding in his brain and ultimately died of his injuries Feb. 5 without regaining consciousness, prosecutors said.

Authorities said eyewitnesses reported that the two men had been arguing throughout the day Feb. 1, 2024, over a relationship with a woman. Witnesses said they heard Ramsey strike Jennings in the back of the head with a stick or pipe from about a block away, prosecutors said.

A witness said they saw Ramsey kick Jennings twice in the head while he was lying on the ground and heard Ramsey yell, "I told you I was gonna kill you," prosecutors said. The witness identified themself as the 911 caller who reported the assault and later identified Ramsey, prosecutors said.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Ramsey was brought to homicide detectives for an interview after being apprehended in New York.

During the interview, Ramsey denied killing Jennings but admitted to knowing him, being present at the scene and striking him with a stick immediately before the killing. Ramsey claimed that "somebody else" hit Jennings in the head with a baseball bat.

Ramsey was charged with third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime.  

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20.