Jerrico “Ri-Ri” Hawthorne sits in Judge Rebecca Stern’s courtroom during a trial on charges against him in the slaying of 23-year-old James “J Money” Williams Jr. in this file photo.Jurors found 26-year-old Jerrico “Ri-Ri” Hawthorne guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, felony murder among other charges this afternoon in the 2011 slaying of 23-year-old James “J Money” Williams Jr.
He was sentenced to life in prison on the murder charge; sentencing on the other charges will be determined later.
Hawthorne’s trial began Tuesday. The jury, made up of seven men and six women, deliberated Thursday afternoon from 2 to 7 p.m., and resumed their work this morning.
Hawthorne, a Gangster Disciple gang member, was accused of shooting Williams to death during a robbery on July 27, 2011. Williams arrived home at 2305 E. 17th St. with his girlfriend, Yetta Harris, when he was ambushed by two suspects.
Williams, who was a known drug dealer, was shot 10 times and sustained 14 gunshot wounds. He died on the way to the hospital.