A Vermilion County Circuit Court jury deliberated about four hours Thursday before finding a Danville man guilty of first-degree murder. Twenty-five year old Latron Cross will be sentenced later in connection with the July 2017 shooting death of Danville resident Ollie Williams. Jurors also found that the issue of Cross personally discharging a firearm was not proven.
Williams was found lying in the 1400 block of Eastview, the victim of two gunshot wounds. Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy told jurors in closing arguments that Williams told police who shot him before he died. ‘’He saw something and he said something,’’ said Lacy, ‘’and he told police who killed him.’’
But Vermilion County Public Defender Mike Mara disagreed.
‘’He didn’t shoot Ollie and he didn’t kill Ollie,’’ said Mara about his client Latron Cross. Mara said Cross was at his grandmother’s house when the shooting occurred. ‘’Where’s the gun? Where’s the DNA,’’ asked Mara as he addressed jurors.
A sentencing hearing will be set later. Judge Nancy Fahey scheduled a hearing next month on post-trial motions.
[This story posted on November 8, 2018.]
