Two Flint men have been found guilty in the 2021 murder of William Laquan Woodward, according to the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office. In a report from abc12, Troy Terrance Murphy, 24, and Malik Shandae Jones, 29, were convicted on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearm. Per the same sources, Woodward was hit while driving before his vehicle continued to crash into two utility poles.
The incident took place on Franklin Avenue near Mabel Avenue where Murphy and Jones fired at Woodward's car from the sidewalk, ultimately causing fatal injuries. Notably, the WNEM report adds that Woodward's vehicle snapped a utility pole in half and then proceeded to strike another pole before coming to a rest. During the investigation, police located multiple shell casings and observed numerous bullet holes in the car.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton was quoted by CBS News Detroit saying, "This was a cold-blooded, senseless murder by two individuals who obviously have no value for the life of others." Leyton's remarks echo a sentiment of outrage over the violent nature of the crime. Sentencing for both men is scheduled for July 21, with Jones facing an automatic life sentence without parole and Murphy subject to a different penalty due to his age at the time of the crime.
Due to a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling, offenders under the age of 21 at the time of their crime cannot be sentenced to life without parole. According to WNEM, Murphy was 20 years old when the murder took place. Jones was 26, which subjects him to the automatic life sentence. Leyton said, "Like Jones, there is no question that Troy Murphy is a dangerous individual and he should be kept off the streets for a very long time for the safety of our citizens and for justice."
