THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210369
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO NEWS
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
A Circuit Court judge convicted an 18-year-old man of first-degree murder Wednesday for shooting a construction worker to death after a robbery attempt.
Jerome M. Gore, who had faced capital murder charges following the Aug. 6 fatal shooting of Jermaine Johnson, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in a plea agreement. Gore could have received the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.
Judge Norman Olitsky accepted Johnson's plea after prosecutors said they had witnesses who would testify that Gore and two other men, Shawn Moye and Jack McMillian, drove to London Oaks looking for people to rob. Witnesses said Gore shot Johnson after they forced him to remove his pants and found that he had no money. As Johnson tried to return to his apartment, he was shot twice in the back.
Prosecutors said Gore needed money to buy drugs. Defense attorney George Talbott said Gore did not fire the shots that killed Johnson.
Gore, who is scheduled to be sentenced June 12, could receive life in prison. Moye and McMillian are awaiting trial on murder charges.
KEYWORDS: MURDER GUILTY PLEA SHOOTING by CNB