Rodney Jennings
A Criminal Court jury on Friday found Rodney Jennings guilty as charged of second-degree murder in a Jan. 28, 2014, slaying at East Lake Courts.
He faces 15-25 years served at 100 percent.
Jennings, 29, said the victim, Raphael White, threatened him with a gun with a black bandana wrapped around it. A black bandana was found at the shooting scene.
Three people who were at the public housing unit said the victim was unarmed and made no threats. No gun was found at the residence at 6th Avenue.
Jennings, 29, said the mother of his children, Chesley Thompson, and two of her relatives wanted to get back at him for an earlier incident in which he was charged with breaking into her residence and assaulting her.
After the Jennings testimony, the prosecution recalled Ms. Thompson, who again said there was no gun on the victim and no threats.
She went into details about the prior incident with Jennings and her 911 call was played to the jury. She said, after she locked her doors, that Jennings broke a window and was trying to climb inside. Ms. Thompson said she tried to push him back. She said her arm was badly cut by the broken window, and she said Jennings hit her in the face.
Jennings said he tossed the gun he used shortly after the incident. He said he got rid of the gun because he was afraid he would be confronted by police and they would shoot him.
He said he fled to Memphis out of fear and was there for some two months.
Jennings was questioned by prosecutor Cameron Williams about gang affiliations. He denied being a member of the Traveling Vice Lords. He said a tattoo he has and letters found in his cell are about Islam, not gangs.
Officer Curtis Penney, called by the defense, said bandanas are sometimes used to denote gang affiliation.
The state on Friday morning called a TBI Crime Lab witness who said the bandana was analyzed and there was no evidence that it had been in contact with a gun.
Kristen Spires also prosecuted the case.
Chesley Thompson