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On Monday, Jahmir Harris received a mandatory term of life in prison from Common Pleas Judge Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi for the Dec. 23, 2012 shooting death of Louis Porter. The sentence followed a jury’s decision that the 25-year-old had committed first-degree murder and related offenses in the Girard Estate-situated matter.
On the night in question, the jury decided the South Philly resident exited the driver’s side of a car in the Walgreen’s parking lot, 2310 W. Oregon Ave., and fired 17 shots at Porter, who had just parked and exited from his automobile. A security guard who witnessed the execution said the victim’s 5-year-old son screamed “My dad, my dad!” in seeing the slaying.
According to court records, Assistant District Attorney Erin Boyle argued that evidence showed that Porter had earlier on Dec. 23 told the convicted individual’s mother that Harris owed him $3,900 over a pills transaction. Another witness stated she had just exited from her car when the shooting happened. Defense attorney Brian McMonagle contended that the woman could not have clearly seen the shooter, but the jury did not side with that sentiment or claims from relatives that he could have not been the culprit because he is left-handed and footage initially showed the gun wielder firing with both hands before concluding with his right. Boyle rebuked that feeling by saying the gunman continued shooting with his right hand to be able to close his car door with his dominant left hand.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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