FAYETTEVILLE — A jury Wednesday convicted Marlon Terryonna Smith of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Scott Kendricks
Prosecutors say Smith, 35, shot Kendricks in the head without provocation at a party in south Fayetteville three years ago.
Smith was charged with capital murder. Prosecutors said they planned to seek the death penalty if they won a conviction on the charge.
Jurors may consider lesser offenses of first or second-degree murder if they do not believe a capital murder verdict is appropriate. Capital murder requires premeditation and deliberation.
First-degree murder carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life.
Smith didn’t testify during the trial. Witnesses told police Smith shot 36-year-old Kendricks at a family cookout.
Prosecutors contend the shooting was retribution for an earlier fight between the two men. The defense suggested it may have stemmed from a drug deal gone bad. Prosecutors said there is no evidence to support that suggestion.
Police received a call at 10:27 p.m. April 28, 2019, of a shooting at 234 S Willow Ave. where they found the 36-year-old Kendricks with a single gunshot wound to the head, according to a police report. Kendricks was pronounced dead at a local hospital.