Man convicted in death of suspected drug dealer at hotel
GREENSBURG (AP) – A man has been convicted in the shooting death of a suspected drug dealer at a Western Pennsylvania hotel last year.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Westmoreland County jurors deliberated for more than four hours Friday before convicting 19-year-old Christopher Smarr of first- and second-degree murder, robbery, a weapons crime and other offenses.
Prosecutors alleged that the McKeesport man bought $950 worth of crack from 31-year-old Brandon Gray at the Garden Inn in March 2015, then followed Gray down a hallway demanding the return of the money before shooting him.
Prosecutors say Smarr faces a mandatory 41-year sentence rather than a mandatory life term because he was 17 at the time.
Defense attorney Michael DeMatt, who argued that another man killed the victim, vowed an appeal.