Teddy Kulmala
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — A Brooklyn, N.Y., man avoided the death penalty and was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison for killing two people in 2007.
Larry Bonnell Shawn Robinson was convicted last week of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in the May 2, 2007, murders of Darrick Locklear and Lee Chavis, and for shooting and injuring Jason Oxendine.
According to courthouse documents, in addition to life in prison, Robinson was sentenced to 135 to 171 months for second-degree murder, and 20 to 33 months for the assault charge, with the sentences running consecutively.
Prosecutor Martha Duvall said the jury deliberated for fewer than 30 minutes on Wednesday before the knock on the door. The sentence was announced at about 12:30 p.m.
“It was a great deal of relief, I’m sure,” Duvall said of the mood in the courtroom after the sentence was read. “His family, our victims’ families were content with life in prison.”
Locklear, Chavis and Oxendine were leaving the home of and Oxendine’s father, Merlin, their employer, when a black sedan pulled into the driveway. The driver and one of the passengers opened fire on the men, who scattered.
Oxendine and Chavis saw the driver of the vehicle shoot Locklear, she said. When they ran toward the back side of the house, two more shooters appeared from that area and began firing.
Merlin Oxendine ran into his house, grabbed a gun and returned fire, striking the driver.
Duvall said evidence suggested that Robinson was the driver. He was found suffering with a gunshot wound in a field less than 100 yards from the home and taken to a hospital, where he was arrested.
Locklear, who was shot seven times, died at the scene. Chavis later died at a hospital. Jason Oxendine was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the left calf.
Robinson is the only person who has been charged in the case. Duvall said authorities have their suspicions on who the other people involved are, but that they don’t have enough evidence to charge them.
Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser presided over the case.
If the individual does get death... we will pay for him for the majority of his life. we have people on death row from the mid 80's (read the recent death row article).
As for Britt, this county selected him... find somebody to run against (if he does decide to run) in the next election. The system often make agreements because of lack of witness, the victim's past, and lack of evidence. Anyway it goes, there will always be plea bargins... and sometimes it will decision that the DA may not want to make but has no choice.
GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS
You sound like a true southern ignorant redneck. It is such a blessing that the jury is not as ignorant or un-educated as you obviously are. Mr. "now us taxpayers get to pay". Why don't you use some of your income if you make enough milking cows and go back to school. It sounds like you may have dropped out in about the eighth or nineth grade. And I might add, I am being very generous in making that assumption!