Kaboni Savage was born on January 1, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a neighborhood called Hunting Park. His mother was Barbara Savage. Kaboni had a close family, including his sister, Kidada. When he was 13 years old, his father died of cancer. This event had a significant impact on Kaboni’s life.

As a teenager, Kaboni went to Frankford High School. He was interested in sports, especially boxing. He began training at the Front Street Gym in North Philadelphia. He participated in one professional boxing match and won. After high school, Kaboni started dealing drugs. He initially sold drugs in Hunting Park and gradually became a higher-level dealer.

From around 1998 to 2004, Kaboni sold large amounts of cocaine in Philadelphia. He was known for his involvement in organized crime. 

Authorities accused Kaboni Savage of being involved in several murders. One such case involved Kenneth Lassiter, who was killed after a minor car accident with Savage. Although Savage was acquitted of this murder, it was believed that the key witness against him, Tybius "Tib" Flowers, was later murdered on Savage’s orders.

Savage also ordered the murder of Carlton Brown, a drug dealer and competitor. In 2001, this assassination was carried out by hitman Lamont Lewis. Throughout his criminal activities, Savage ordered the deaths of at least five other men and used intimidation tactics while in custody.

After he was acquitted in the Lassiter case, Savage was arrested again, accused of leading a drug trafficking network. He was convicted on multiple charges related to drugs and intimidation and received a 30-year prison sentence.

One of the most notorious crimes linked to Savage was the firebombing of a house in 2004. This incident was in retaliation against a federal witness, Eugene "Twin" Coleman, who had testified against him. On October 9, 2004, an explosive device was used to ignite a fire at Coleman’s mother’s residence. The fire resulted in the deaths of six people, including four children, making it one of the deadliest events of its kind in Philadelphia.

In connection with the firebombing, Savage's sister, Kidada Savage, played a key role by recruiting hitmen, including Lamont Lewis and Robert "B.J." Merritt Jr. They were responsible for carrying out the firebombing. Both Lewis and Merritt were later arrested and testified against Savage during his trial.

Savage's trial took place from 2012 to 2013. He faced numerous charges, including multiple counts of murder tied to his racketeering operations. Ultimately, Savage was convicted of 17 counts, including 12 counts of murder. In June 2013, he was sentenced to death for these crimes.

Additionally, during the trial, a commentary from Savage, recorded in his cell, showed a disturbing lack of remorse regarding the firebombing victims. His conviction marked him as one of the most high-profile cases in the federal court system for violent crimes related to organized crime in Philadelphia. Despite his lack of remorse, Savage was among 37 individuals whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by President Joe Biden on December 23, 2024.