Pair given life sentences for deadly car repair argument
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -
Two men are headed to prison for life in the fatal shooting of a man in Memphis over a car repair.
The Shelby County prosecutor's office said a jury convicted 21-year-old Marquavious Houston and 22-year-old Christopher Swift. Both were found guilty Saturday of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and using a firearm in committing a dangerous felony. Life terms with no parole are automatic in such cases.
Trial evidence showed Houston and Swift were in a car when they encountered another car carrying Marco Blockmon and Demarus Smith. Investigators testified there was a brief argument over a car repair performed by Blockmon and then Houston and Swift fired shot into the other car and drove away.
Blockmon was fatally injured in the January 2011 shooting and Smith survived critical injuries.
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