17-YEAR-OLD GETS LIFE ON FELONY MURDER CONVICTION

Carjacking at Service Station Paralyzed, Then Killed 55-Year-Old Vernon Rouse

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction yesterday of 17-year-old Cortez Tye of Atlanta in the death of 55-year-old Vernon Rouse. Mr. Rouse was pumping gas into his 2006 Chevy Equinox at the CITGO service station at 2989 Campbellton Road on November 17, 2006 when he was struck in the back of the neck by the defendant and another teen and his vehicle stolen. The victim, who had just left one of the two janitorial jobs he worked, was instantly paralyzed from the neck down. He died 21-days later at Atlanta Medical Center due to complications from the spinal cord injury he suffered during the assault.

The defendant was arrested 5-days after the carjacking when police spotted him driving the stolen SUV. The jury found him guilty of two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of robbery. Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson sentenced the defendant to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years. Ten days after the carjacking, the accomplice, 16-year-old Kenyatta Carter, was shot and killed by a pizza delivery driver he was trying to rob.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Herskowitz introduced into evidence two similar transactions committed by the defendant Tye in the months prior to the assault on Mr. Rouse. In each, he had attacked drivers on Campbellton Road and stolen their vehicles. In one of those cases, in August of 2006, the defendant "carjacked" and punched in the face a Morehouse College student at the very same gas station.

The case was investigated by Atlanta Police Department Detective D. Quinn and Investigator Patrice Nesbitt of the DA's Investigations Unit. Natalie Head of the DA's Victim-Witness Assistance Program provided services to the victim's family and witnesses in the case.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us