A San Antonio jury has found Quentin Phillips, 32, guilty of murder in a harrowing 2017 drive-by shooting that killed a 4-year-old boy and shook the community. KSAT reported the verdict on Friday, marking the close of a trial that centered around gang violence and a child's tragic death.
Phillips was convicted for his role in a shooting that resulted in 65 bullets tearing through a family home on the East Side, snatching the life of young De’Earlvion Whitley as he innocently played video games. Jurors needed roughly 90 minutes to decide the man's fate, the Express-News reports, finding him guilty despite the defense attempting to quickly discredit the key witness, a fellow gang member, and sweep past damning surveillance footage.
The incredibly short deliberation period perhaps speaks volumes about the strength of the evidence presented during the trial. Notably, an FBI special agent provided surveillance video, which depicted Phillips among men handling firearms moments before the deadly attack, according to KSAT. Charles Bethany, a member of Phillips' gang and now awaiting sentencing on separate federal charges, testified that Phillips had admitted to the shooting and was seen as the "leader" of the group responsible for the crime.
Phillips had refused to accept a 40-year plea deal and chose to firmly risk a trial by jury. His gamble did not pay off; the evidence, including the testimony of Bethany, who is to be hoping for a reduced federal sentence, formed a compelling case against him. As the Express-News detailed, defense attorneys had tried to paint Bethany as a liar and the real perpetrator, a strategy that ultimately failed to convince the jury.
Phillips is not the lone suspect in this case; two other men, Terrell Chase and John Chatmon, were also charged with murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Chase has already been convicted of the firearm charge and is serving a life sentence, currently under appeal. Two other associated charges have been dismissed, but the cloud of gang violence and its collateral damage to innocents like De’Earlvion Whitley remains a haunting reality.
Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales said in a statement obtained by KSAT, "Gang violence doesn’t just impact people in the gang. The murder of De-Earlvion Whitley, an innocent child, shows the devastating consequences of street gang violence and the importance of ensuring the safety and security of our communities." Phillips now faces the prospect of life in prison, with the sentencing phase set to begin soon.
