JURY CONVICTS MURERER/ROBBER CAUGHT RED-HANDED WITH VICTIM’S PROPERTY SHORTLY AFTER KILLING

State vs. Jerome Everett

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder case against Jerome Everett, 25. Jurors found Everett guilty of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a felony. Additionally, the defendant pled guilty to a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a convicted felon in the shooting death and robbery of 37-year old Keith Nelson of Atlanta.

Police, responding to a call of shots fired, found Nelson lying in a pool of blood in his Highland Avenue condo on March 28, 2008. Officers spotted the defendant running from the location with bloody hands and clothing. He was also carrying the victim’s house and car keys in his pocket and had attempted to a hide a flat screen television stolen from the victim’s home behind a parked truck. A nine millimeter handgun used as the murder weapon was recovered from a grassy area nearby. Shortly after the crime, Everett told police he killed the victim in self-defense and stole his belongings as an after-thought.

Following the jury’s guilty verdict, Everett was sentenced to life in prison plus five years by Senior Judge John Girardeau, a visiting judge from Hall County presiding over the trial for the backlog section of Fulton Superior Court.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Pete Johnson with assistance from Senior DA Investigator Steve Barresi. Investigator A.C. Smith of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov