Syracuse, New York – Man accused of killing a A 44-year-old man who injured three other people in a drive-by shooting in Syracuse on Memorial Day in 2023 was found guilty Tuesday.
Jauquell Flagg, 32, was found guilty of all charges. The jury deliberated for two days before returning with a verdict Tuesday morning.
Flagg’s main charge, second-degree murder, usually carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life.
Flagg was one of four people accused of opening fire on people inside a stolen Chevrolet Malibu on May 29, 2023 at 9:45 p.m., in the 400 block of Bellevue Avenue. Demond Jones, 44, was killed and three other people were injured.
Prosecutors alleged that Flagg drove his mother’s Jeep throughout the day, which was seen parked next to the Malibu later that day. The prosecutor said his phone was in the Jeep during the murder and remained untouched.
Related article: One passport, never used: Syracuse man murdered was a loving son who dreamed of traveling, family says
Prosecutor Rob Moran said prosecutors placed Flagg in Malibu based on DNA evidence. He said Flagg’s decision to leave his phone in his car, which had been ringing from the parking lot and unused for an hour during the murder, was evidence that he knew exactly what was happening that night.
Moran said prosecutors have another key piece of evidence, namely the results of a Google search Flagg conducted 24 hours after the murder.
According to phone records, before deleting his search history, Flagg researched what a jury would need to prove a murder conviction, Moran said.
However, Flagg’s defense attorney Shaun Chase said Flagg, an avid rap fan, has been closely following the Florida murder trial involving YNW Melly. Chase said the Google search was sparked by his curiosity about the case.
Chase argued that Flagg’s DNA in Malibu could have been transferred from something else or that there was an innocent reason why his DNA was in the car.
Chase also said there was no clear video of Flagg in the car used in the shooting. He said no evidence was presented to show Flagg was involved.
Flagg is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14.
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Demond Jones’s obituary
Demond Jones (44) was shot and killed on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023. Demond Jones is shown here with his mother, Darlene, on the day he threw her a birthday party. (Courtesy of Darlene Jones)
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Writer Darian Stevenson writes about breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? She can be contacted at [email protected]
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