Chicago Gang Member Sentenced for Fatally capturing Pregnant Teen as She Begged for Her existence

A Chicago gang member will probably spend the leisure of his life in prison after he killed a pregnant teenage woman in 2011, firing on her assorted times as she reportedly pleaded for mercy, individuals has tested.

Timothy Jones changed into sentenced this week to 90 years in detention center after he was convicted of first-degree homicide and aggravated discharge of a firearm within the August 2011 capturing death of Charinez Jefferson, then 17, prosecutors noted in a news unencumber.

Jones, 23, become sentenced Monday in cook County, a court clerk representative tells americans. Jones' defense legal professional, Kevin Sterk, tells people they are planning an appeal and that he believes it become "physically impossible" for his client to were the shooter.

Prosecutors say Jones fired on Jefferson multiple instances, on Aug. sixteen, 2011, after he saw her with a pal of her's, who turned into a member of Jones' rival gang.

Jones fired on Jefferson's male pal howe ver missed and he ran away, prosecutors say. Then he started taking pictures Jefferson, who turned into seven months pregnant.

"She saved begging for her life, and he nonetheless shot her," witness Romell VanTrease said last yr, in accordance with the Chicago Tribune. "She begged for her life ... talked about, 'i'm pregnant.' " (Prosecutors noted Jones became indignant because within the previous 24 hours, about, he had been injured in a separate taking pictures, in accordance with the Tribune.)

Timothy Jones

cook County Sheriff's office

Jones swore at Jefferson as he fired, and stored firing after she fell to the ground, in line with the Tribune, which referred to prosecutors. She became seven months pregnant.

Jefferson didn't continue to exist the capturing, but her son, Kahmani, did – though the now 5-12 months-ancient continues to be "completely incapacitated" with little hope of recovery, prosecutors say.

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The sufferer's mom Speaks Out in court docket Jefferson's mother, Debbie, cared for Kahmani due to the fact that Charinez's demise, while she was entreated to eliminate him from lifestyles help, she instructed the Tribune in 2014.

"I could not see turning the computing device off on him. Who am I to judge whether he lives or dies, k?" she pointed out. "i used to be simply grateful that he is still right here."

Debbie died from cancer earlier this year, in keeping with the Tribune, but now not before she wrote an affect statement for Jones' sentencing.

It turned into examine by way of a prosecutor in court Monday, based on the paper.

In it, Debbie pointed out she "had to discover a means in my coronary heart to forgive you ... I needed to let go of anger, resentment, bitterness and hatred."

"I watched you throughout the trial and also you confirmed no regret. So perhaps you would not know the way I believe," Debbie wrote. "From this day ahead, if you open and close your mouth and eyes, and also you are s till in a position to stroll and speak, cease and take a minute and suppose concerning the lives you destroyed."

She wrote, "your entire sleepless nights and dreary days, I pray you ask God for forgiveness and to have mercy in your soul."

protection lawyer: 'He Does nonetheless Proclaim His Innocence' Sterk, Jones' attorney, tells americans that probably the most hardest issues he's had to do, professionally, was listen to Jefferson's household statements at Monday's sentencing.

"to claim that it changed into heartbreaking doesn't do it justice," he says.

Even nonetheless, Jones is adamant that he's innocent of the crimes for which he changed into convicted, Sterk says – and Sterk says he plans to file an attraction and are seeking post-conviction aid in the variety of a lighter sentence.

Sterk says Jones had had emergency surgical procedure on his leg and belly, with a rod put in in his leg, five months before the 2011 taking pictures, and wouldn't have been walking the streets, because the prosecutors argued. Sterk also referred to as into query the testimony of both eyewitnesses.

He says that Jones knew Jefferson for years earlier than the taking pictures.

"[Jones] prays for them and feels terrible for his or her loss," Sterk says. "at the equal time , he does nevertheless proclaim his innocence."