After around two and a half hours of deliberation Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial against Shakkory Willis, a jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict on the murder charge.
They did find Willis—who was accused in the January, 2019 shooting death of Corvyan Thomas at a home on Short Bethel Street—guilty for first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor for his role in the events that took place that ended with Thomas dead and Dylan Stewart shot in the leg.
Judge John Atkins confirmed with the jury that further deliberation would not result in a verdict on the murder charge—when the foreperson said yes, he declared a mistrial on the charge.
The trial then moved into the sentencing phase on the other guilty verdicts, with the jury hearing from Betty Taylor, who is Corvyan Thomas’ grandmother. She says the pain hits you when you least expect it, and her grandson will never have a chance to laugh or see his family again.
Triasha Willis Higgins is Willis’ mother and says her son was dealing with several traumatic events in 2019 when the incidents occurred, but he has always maintained his innocence.
In the end, the jury recommended a sentence of 15 years on the count of first-degree robbery, 15 years for first-degree burglary and three years for second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, all to run consecutively for a total of 33 years.
Judge Atkins set a final sentencing date of September 22, and says they will potentially set a new trial date on the murder charge at that time, if it is not resolved before then.