An Alabama man is facing a life sentence for fatally shooting a Florida teen during a drug robbery.
NBC affiliate WJHG reports that 22-year-old Demarcus Giddens was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. His sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Giddens and his friends, 19-year-old Rodney Jones and 22-year-old Gertavious Montrez Canada, went to Panama City Beach in August 2017 to rob a drug dealer. While trying to buy marijuana from two teens, authorities say Giddens shot 16-year-old Jason Price in the chest with an AK-47 rifle.
Giddens acknowledged in court that they were trying to buy an ounce of marijuana but claimed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Price.
Jones and Canada previously accepted plea deals and testified against Giddens.
