Four men to spend life in prison for gunning down 14-year-old in Flint in 2007

by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal

Tuesday February 17, 2009

FLINT, Michigan -- Four men who gunned down a 14-year-old as he tried to flee on his bicycle in 2007 will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

A witness had testified the men shot Robert Person III because he had allegedly snitched on one of their friends.

Genesee County Prosecutor David S. Leyton said the guilty verdicts send a strong message that intimidation will not be tolerated.

"As tragic as his death is and as difficult as it is for his family, (Robert) did not die in vain," said Leyton.

"We will not stand for thugs to take over the streets."

One juror was apparently so afraid to return a guilty verdict in the case that deliberations had to be called off because her blood pressure spiked dangerously high last week, said Leyton.

When jurors returned to resume deliberation Tuesday, Leyton said the woman didn't show up at the courthouse and had to be replaced by an alternate juror.

The jury came back with guilty verdicts on all charges against Dartanion Edwards, 20, his older brother, Joshun Edwards, 28, Cquan Hinton, 19, and Kino Christian, 30.

Leyton said the four were part of a Flint street crew.

A 15-year-old friend of Robert's had testified at an earlier court hearing that the pair were near the Evergreen Regency Apartments off Lippincott Boulevard in Flint on Oct. 9, 2007 when one of the men asked Robert why he had snitched on his friend.

The man exchanged words with Robert but walked away, only to come back later with three other men.

All four pulled out guns and started shooting as Robert rode away on his bicycle, the witness testified.

The eighth-grader at Flint Southwestern Academy's McKinley annex was found near the entrance of the apartment complex where he lived with his mother.

All four men were convicted on charges of murder, assault with intent to murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearms.

Christian and Joshun Edwards were also convicted of being felons in possession of firearms.

The murder convictions carry a mandatory life sentence when the Edwards brothers and Hinton are sentenced March 17. Christian will be sentenced March 31.

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