Photos: Troy Terrance Murphy, 24 of Flint, and Malik Shandae Jones, 29 of Flint mugshots
FLINT – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said a jury found two men guilty on June 12 in the 2021 shooting death of 32-year-old William Laquan Woodward on Franklin Avenue in Flint.
Troy Terrance Murphy, 24 of Flint, and Malik Shandae Jones, 29 of Flint, were both found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearm for the April 25, 2021 killing. Murphy was also charged and convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a second count of felony firearm.
According to testimony at trial and the police investigation, Woodward was driving northbound on Franklin Avenue when he was shot in the head as Murphy and Jones were shooting at his vehicle from the sidewalk, near the corner of Franklin and Mabel Avenues in Flint. After he was shot, Woodward’s vehicle continued northbound on Franklin until it struck a utility pole on the east side of Franklin near Roseland Avenue
Woodward’s vehicle snapped the pole in half and it continued northbound until it came to rest after hitting another utility pole on the west side of Franklin near Delaware Avenue.
Police investigators found spent shell casings on and near the sidewalk on the west side of Franklin, north of Mabel. They also observed multiple bullet holes in Woodward’s vehicle.
Woodward was transported to Hurley Medical Center in Flint where he was treated by a trauma team and later died.
The investigation by City of Flint Police and the Michigan State Police led them to the identity of Murphy and Jones as the shooters and both were subsequently located and arrested.
“This was a cold-blooded, senseless murder by two individuals who obviously have no value for the life of others,” said Prosecutor Leyton after the verdict was read.
Under recent rulings this Spring by the Michigan Supreme Court, individuals under 21-year-old cannot be subjected to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Murphy was 20-years-old at the time of Woodward’s murder. Jones, however, was 26-years-old and will be automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“Like Jones, there is no question that Troy Murphy is a dangerous individual and he should be kept off the streets for a very long time for the safety of our citizens and for justice,” said Prosecutor Leyton. “This was not Murphy’s first contact with the justice system and we are going to advocate to the Court for a very lengthy prison sentence,” Prosecutor Leyton said.
Prosecutor Leyton credited the City of Flint Police and the Michigan State Police for their diligent efforts in identifying the suspects and bringing them to justice. He also applauded the hard work of assistant prosecutor Lori Selvidge for taking this case to a successful verdict at trial along with the assistance of her team including Assistant Prosecutor Sara Brady, who assisted as second chair, and the outstanding work of the victim advocates, secretaries and paralegals.
Jones and Murphy are scheduled to be sentenced on July 21.
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