Beltzhoover man gets 5 to 10 years for role in cab driver beating death

A Beltzhoover man who cooperated with prosecutors will serve five to 10 years in prison for his role in the fatal beating death of a Z Trip cab driver in 2017.

Hosea Moore, 25, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy in May. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Elliot Howsie sentenced him on Tuesday.

In addition to the prison term, Moore was also ordered to serve five years of probation.

A charge of criminal homicide was withdrawn as part of the plea agreement. Moore has been in custody since his arrest.

He was one of four people charged in the attack on Ramadhan Mohamed, 31, on Feb. 21, 2017, in Beltzhoover.

Mohamed, a 31-year-old Somali refugee, was attacked when a Z Trip cab was ordered by the attackers, who were looking to rob someone that morning.

Police said Daniel Russell called and ordered the cab to pick him up at 2 a.m. on Climax Street.

When Mohamed arrived, Russell and King Edwards got in the back seat to distract him while Moore opened the driver’s side door and punched Mohamed in the face.

The men, including Christen Glenn, then dragged Mohamed from the car and beat him.

He died from blunt force trauma three days later.

Moore, who testified during Russell’s trial in November 2019, told the court that after he punched Mohamed through the car door, he backed away and didn’t strike him again.

Russell was convicted of second-degree murder.

Edwards pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was ordered to serve 19 to 38 years in state prison.

Charges are still pending against Glenn, who is scheduled for trial on Sept. 12.