A Cobb County jury deliberated five hours Friday before convicting three men in a 2011 shooting death.
Harvey ‘Rucks’ Hogans, 27, of New York, Derek Lee Kemp, 32, of Marietta, and Alphonso ‘JRock’ Watkins, 31, of Marietta, were found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, concealing a death, and possession of a firearm during the commission of crimes in the death of Derek George Gray Jr., District Attorney Vic Reynolds said.
The three were found not guilty of another count of felony murder and one count of violating Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Reynolds said.
In July 2011, Gray, 22, was shot inside a Ford Taurus that was later found burned in Union City, according to investigators. Gray’s body was found dumped off of Circle 75 Parkway in Cobb County. Gray was a recent newlywed and his wife was pregnant at the time of his death.
“They were looking for an easy score, and they targeted Mr. Gray,” Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans said. “These men chose to conspire to commit these crimes.”
Sentencing for the three is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday.
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