A third suspect has been arrested in connection with a February killing in Hartwell as part of a planned drug-deal robbery, according to prosecutors.
Demarzah Brown, 19, is charged with murder in Hamilton County Municipal Court, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on May 1 before Judge Donte Johnson.
He’s charged alongside Derrick Terry, 18, and Destiny Newman, 19, of carrying out the Feb. 4 shooting death of 18-year-old Anthony Davis, court records show. Terry and Newman face charges including aggravated murder.
Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Connor Wood said in court that Brown was sitting in the back of Davis’ vehicle when the shooting happened and was involved in planning the robbery.
Police said in court filings that Brown, Terry and Newman arranged to meet Davis at a gas station for a drug transaction. They all got into the vehicle with Davis in the driver’s seat, according to police, when Terry pulled a gun and demanded that Davis hand over his firearm and marijuana.
Terry took the property and shot Davis multiple times, police said, adding that all three suspects fled from the moving vehicle and ran to evade arrest. Prosecutors said they all fled to Terry’s home.
Davis was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died.
The shooting stemmed from a plan to set up drug deals and rob those who agreed to meet, Wood said.
Brian Goldberg, Brown’s attorney, said in court that although the shooting happened in February, Brown remained in Greater Cincinnati the entire time leading to his arrest on April 30.
“He didn’t try to go on the run or anything,” Goldberg said.
Brown is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $1 million bond awaiting trial. The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury by May 11.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Third suspect arrested in planned drug-deal robbery, fatal shooting
Reporting by Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
