Not guilty verdict in hamburger homicide

VIDEO - A suspect in the slaying of an 18-year-old girl with a promising future was found not guilty on all charges Tuesday...

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A suspect in the slaying of an 18-year-old girl with a promising future was found not guilty on all charges Tuesday.

Terrence Jones, 20, was accused of firing a gun at the front door of Tanganika Stanton’s mother’s home in Northeast, striking and killing the teenager.

Prosecutors said a man had fired shots at the house after Stanton refused to give him her hamburger and her mother refused to cook him his own since he was a stranger.

A 9-year-old boy testified that he was riding his bike in the area, recognized Jones and saw him shoot at the house. The boy apparently has nightmares about witnessing that and is in therapy.

Jones’ lawyers argued that the boy was mistaken and police arrested the wrong man.

Jones spent about 20 months in jail after his arrest. After a day of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and aggravated assault.

“We’re pleased with the verdict,” defense attorney Elizabeth Mullen said.

The victim’s sister she was probably in shock after the verdict.

“It’s up to God to see that justice is done,” Yvonne Stanton said.

Tanganika Stanton had just graduated from Ballou High School. Family members said she was intelligent, a member of the book club and wanted to open her own art gallery.

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