SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Springfield man was convicted Friday for his role in a 2021 shooting.
The Sangamon County State's Attorney said in an Aug. 22 press release that Jahsen Thomas was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for the April 2021 murder of Courtney Smith.
During the incident, Springfield Police officers responded to the 200 block of North Lincoln Avenue, where the murder occurred.
According to witness testimony, Thomas was seen standing over Smith's body with a hand gun. The witness testified to seeing Thomas shoot Smith in the head.
Police negotiated with Thomas for 20 minutes before using less than lethal force in the form of bean bag rounds to approach him and take him in to custody.
Evidence showed Smith had been shot 5 times and Illinois State Police forensic scientists testified that the bullets recovered from her body were fired from the gun found at the scene.
Thomas' sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.
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