A 香港六和开奖历史记录 teenager indicted in the slaying of a local rapper three years ago was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to reduced charges.
Clarence Jones, 19, accepted the plea deal agreed upon by his attorney and prosecutors. He admitted his guilt in an April 3, 2021, robbery that escalated to a shooting outside the Hollywood Food Mart in the 5500 block of McClelland Drive and left 34-year-old Rayfel 鈥淟il Ray鈥 Matta Jr. dead.
Matta was a 香港六和开奖历史记录 rapper known in the underground hip-hop world by his stage name 鈥淩ambo K Kutta.鈥 He collaborated with platinum-selling artists like Jadakiss and DeJ Loaf and was also featured on songs with other big-name rappers from the Capital City like Boosie and Kevin Gates.
Authorities originally indicted Jones, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, for second-degree murder, and he faced the prospect of a mandatory life sentence. But officials said he cooperated with the District Attorney鈥檚 office and provided information that aided in the prosecution of the case.
In exchange, the state reduced his charges to attempted second-degree robbery and accessory after the fact to murder. District Judge Fred Crifasi sentenced Jones to 20 years on the charges and suspended 10 years of that prison stint as part of the plea deal.
Jones鈥 co-defendant in the case, 20-year-old Anthony Taylor, pleaded guilty to his second-degree murder indictment on March 4 and nine days later was sentenced to life behind bars. Prosecutors said Taylor was 17 when he gunned down Matta during an argument outside the store near Brookstown. Crifasi made him eligible for parole after he serves 25 years of his sentence, an option granted to some convicted killers who were younger than 18 when their crimes occurred.
Jones has been locked up at the parish prison since November 2022, booking records indicate. The judge advised the teen to participate in rehabilitative programs and focus on self-improvement when he gets to prison.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e made some good decisions since this offense as far as helping yourself and achieving your current posture. Continue to do that,鈥 Crifasi said. 鈥淲hile you鈥檙e incarcerated, you鈥檙e going to be surrounded by other people that are incarcerated. They鈥檙e there for a reason. Some of them are there for a long time, and their mission is just to make you fail. Or to make you hard and convert you to being like them. Don鈥檛.鈥
According to the 香港六和开奖历史记录 Police Department, store surveillance at the Hollywood Food Mart showed Matta talking to Jones and Taylor the night of the shooting moments after the teens pulled into the parking lot in a Honda Accord.
The pair left the store but returned to the parking lot a few minutes later, and Taylor exchanged words with Matta. Taylor could be heard on the surveillance tapes telling Matta, 鈥淚鈥檓ma hit you with it.鈥
鈥淒o you know who I is 鈥,鈥 Matta responded as Taylor extended his arms in a fighting posture, detectives indicated.
鈥淕o ahead and fight and I鈥檓ma hit you with it,鈥 Taylor said.
Prosecutors said Taylor retrieved a gun from the car at some point during the confrontation and told Jones to take items from Matta鈥檚 pockets. When a struggle ensued between Taylor and the victim, Matta reached out to knock the gun out of Taylor鈥檚 hand. That鈥檚 when the teen fired a single gunshot, prosecutors said. Taylor was seen on the surveillance following Matta as he turned and ran toward the store, firing seven more gunshots at the man, who collapsed and died in the entryway of the food mart, according to police.
Jones and Taylor got back into the car and Jones steered the car away. Investigators later traced the vehicle back to his sister, who told officers she let Jones drive it to the 鈥渃orner store鈥 with his friend, who she later identified as Taylor.
Loved ones mourned Matta during Wednesday鈥檚 hearing and told the judge he had a bright future ahead with a music career that was taking off.
鈥淗e traveled the world, yet in his hometown 香港六和开奖历史记录, just like that his life was taken away,鈥 said the victim鈥檚 oldest sister, Bianca Matta-Fisher. 鈥淭aken away by young Black men who could鈥檝e been his kids; kids who should鈥檝e been playing ball in the park or doing other normal kidlike activities. Honestly, that part is the saddest of all.鈥
Jones, through his attorney Cleveland Ray Coon, apologized to the family for the slaying. Prosecutors said Jones confessed his involvement in the robbery attempt, but the teen told them he didn鈥檛 expect Taylor to shoot Matta during the encounter.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 wake up that morning intending for something so horrible to have happened,鈥 Coon turned to relatives in the courtroom and said on the defendant鈥檚 behalf. 鈥淗e鈥檚 willing to accept any accountability for his role in this matter. 鈥 He doesn鈥檛 have a right for you to forgive him. But I certainly hope you can accept his apology and his deep sense of sorrow.鈥
