A 24-year-old man received a 21-year sentence for the murder of a 14-year-old in the West End neighborhood. James Blake, the man convicted for the killing of teen Kathon Moore, will spend over two decades behind bars, according to a report from the Circuit Attorney's Office.
In June, a jury convicted Blake of second-degree murder, second-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action, after a trial that lasted three days. The confrontation began when Blake and an accomplice approached Moore, who was riding his bicycle and offered to sell marijuana. The situation rapidly escalated, leading to the fatal shooting.
Evidence presented at the trial included surveillance video and eyewitness accounts, which detailed how the encounter turned deadly. Moore was thrown to the ground and, while lying defenseless, was shot in the back of the head by Blake. The assailants then took off with Moore's marijuana and a handgun, fleeing the scene in a white sedan. The incident was partly witnessed by residents of a nearby apartment complex, who later played a crucial role in identifying the culprits to the police.
"Kathon Moore’s life mattered," Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore stated following the sentencing. The efforts of the Chief Trial Attorney Marvin O. Teer, Jr., and Assistant Circuit Attorneys Tim Wright and John Edwards, were highlighted in ensuring justice for Moore's family. In the words of Gore, "Our office will never waver in holding violent offenders accountable and standing with the families devastated by senseless acts of violence," in a statement obtained by the Circuit Attorney's Office.
.jpg){kind=link}