Jurors on Wednesday began deliberating in the case of a man accused in the Christmas Day shooting three years ago of a 1-year-old girl in Chapel Hill.
Ramone Jamarr Alston was arrested in the death of Maleah Williams, who was shot in 2015 while she was outside playing at the family's apartment in the 700 block of Trinity Court. The toddler died three days later after she was taken off life support at UNC Hospitals.
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Law enforcement authorities said the girl was killed when shots were fired from a vehicle leaving the apartment complex. One of the bullets struck the girl, who was apparently an innocent bystander.
In addition to Alston, Pierre Je Bron Moore and Shaquille Oneill Davis were arrested.
There was apparently a dispute between the suspects with another man, who was believed to be the intended target of the shooting.
Prosecutors dropped charges against Davis.
Moore's case is pending. No trial date has been set yet for Moore.
During the trial, Alson's lawyer argued that although their client was at the scene when the shooting occurred, prosecutors had failed to prove he was responsible for the tragedy that happened.
But prosecutors argued that Alston showed “indifference” for human life and thereby killed Maleah, who was described as the picture of “innocence.”
Jurors began their deliberation at 2:20 p.m.
The panel is considering three options: they could find Alston guilty of first-degree murder; guilty of second-degree murder or they could find him not guilty.