Man acquitted of homicide in slaying; 2 others plead guilty
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man was acquitted of homicide and other charges in a shooting death a year ago that authorities said stemmed from a drug deal gone bad.
Nineteen-year-old Marshall Thompson was found not guilty in Allegheny County Court on all charges in the June 2014 death of 21-year-old Jose Negron-Fernandez.
Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said his client was paid $10 to give two other men a ride to sell marijuana and “there was no evidence he knew anything about what was going to happen.”
Nineteen-year-old Traevon Nicholson and 20-year-old Daquan Hurt both pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy charges.
Judge Philip Ignelzi sentenced each to five- to 10-year prison terms but said they will be credited with the year they have spent in jail awaiting trial.