James Cornelius Robinson pleaded innocent Wednesday to four criminal charges in connection with August 2013 shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Alexander Murphy.
Robinson was arrested in December 2013 on suspicion of second-degree murder. A grand jury formally charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed and three related weapons charges, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said Wednesday that they do not intend to offer Robinson a plea bargain in connection with the case.
A witness told police that Robinson said that he shot Murphy “at least 17 times” and robbed him. Documents say Murphy was found with a cell phone and $1,000 in cash in his pockets.
According to charging documents, another witness heard 26 gunshots the night Murphy was killed and saw three black men standing around the area where the body was later discovered.
Police found Murphy suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Savannah Street Southeast. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
A status hearing is set for Oct. 15 before Judge Jennifer Anderson.
A copy of Robinson’s indictment is below.
