EVERETT — A Snohomish County jury on Monday convicted a Kirkland man of first-degree murder in the June 23 shooting death of Marquise Brown.
Jerome Blake is facing up to 31 years in prison. He turns 25 next week.
Prosecutors alleged that Brown, 23, was shot during a drug dispute.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing gunfire. They reported seeing a group of men walking together in the 500 block of Pilchuck Path in north Everett. The men stopped to talk, then there was a loud “pop” and one of the men fell to the ground. The others fled the neighborhood.
Police found Brown lying on his side in a pool of blood. He had a single bullet wound to his forehead.
Investigators initially didn’t know Brown’s identity. They received a call from a relative later in the morning stating that he thought Brown might have been shot. The caller provided police a voicemail that likely was left by someone who witnessed the shooting.
Jurors listened to two weeks of testimony and began deliberating Thursday afternoon. They reached a decision late Monday afternoon.
Blake is scheduled to be sentenced June 3.
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