Newport News gang member convicted of 2008 double murder

Attorney General Mark Herring announced that Marcus Williams, the enforcer for the “36 Street Bang Squad Bloods” was convicted Thursday for his role in the 2008 murder of two newport news teens.

On December 30, 2008, Williams and two others gunned down Barry Eugene Richardson, 16, and Keon Flemming, 15, as they walked by Huntington Middle School. Williams suspected the victims were members of a rival gang trespassing on his gang’s territory simply because they happened to live in a neighborhood controlled by a rival gang.

In June 21, 2013, following a complex, three year investigation led by Phil Figura, one of the Chief Prosecutors in Attorney General Herring’s Public Safety and Enforcement divisions, the Peninsula Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury returned indictments against Williams for two counts of First-Degree Murder, Discharging a Firearm within 1,000 feet of a School, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Murder and Felony Gang Participation. A trial by jury of this matter began on September 16, 2014, nearly six years after the murders. After hearing all of the evidence, the jury convicted Williams on September 18, 2014 and recommended a sentence of Two Life Terms in Prison plus Twenty-Three years and a $100,000 fine. Williams’ formal sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2014. His co-defendants have yet to go to trial and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

“I applaud all of the investigators and prosecutors who made these convictions possible,” said Attorney General Herring. “This crime was utterly senseless, and I grieve for the two families who lost sons. We will get these violent criminals off the streets whenever we can, because no child in the Commonwealth should not have to worry about their safety because they simply went out for a walk. The Commonwealth is grateful for the sacrifice and service of those in newport news and elsewhere who brought about this successful prosecution.”

“As I have often said, and as other newport news and Hampton City Leaders told the Attorney General during his public safety tour, support from the Attorney General in providing heartier assets to a cities’ team can enable good information sharing and resource sharing,” said Howard E. Gwynn, Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney.“Working together across city jurisdictional boundaries, we have the potential to make a lot of progress when it comes to reducing gang violence and keeping cities safe.  Particularly in the area of criminals who cross jurisdictional boundaries, a strong collaborative effort between our Attorney General and local law enforcement leaders can yield solid results.”

This case was prosecuted by Mike Jagels and Phil Figura from Attorney General Herring’s Organized Crime and Enforcement Unit.