(Danville) — A Danville man was convicted and sentenced Thursday for a 2023 shooting death.
A Danville Circuit Court jury deliberated just under an hour before finding 35-year old Demetrius Agee Townes guilty of first-degree murder and weapons counts in a shooting death last year in the 1600 block of Washington Street.
Police found 43 year old Joe Arnold Martin of Danville inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers performed CPR until the Danville Life Saving Crew arrived. The victim was later pronounced dead at SOVAH Health.
Townes was originally charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors upgraded the charge to first-degree murder and got an indictment earlier this year.
The same panel that convicted Townes recommended life in prison. A judge agreed, giving Townes life plus eight years for the weapons counts.
Bo Palmore prosecuted the case for the Commonwealth.