Photo Credit: www.nj.com
A man, who once boasted he would rather kill a police officer then be arrested and thrown in jail, has been convicted of murder and weapons offenses in the shooting of a patrolman.
Jahmell Crockam, 20, was found guilty of charges on Feb. 16, 2012 for the Jan. 14, 2011 shooting of New Jersey Patrolman Christopher Matlosz. The jury for Crockam’s case also determined that there were aggravating factors with the case that will lead to an automatic life sentence without parole when he’s sentenced on March 22.
The verdict again Crockam came on the second day of deliberations in the highly publicized case. Matlosz’ fiancee, Kelly Walsifer, actually collapsed in sobs when the verdict was read.
In the case, prosecutors presented evidence, which included witness testimony from two residents who lived on the street where the crime had occurred. The two neighbors had testified that Crockam has walked up to Matlosz’ car after he was called over, pulled a gun from his pocket, and shot the officer three times. The murder weapon has not been found.
Crockam is currently awaiting trial for another murder, one for a man whose body was found dumped on a street corner on Oct. 15. That case will most likely come to trial in either September or in January 2013.
