Belmont County Murder Suspect Competent to Stand Trial
A Wheeling man accused of driving to a confrontation that ended with a fatal shooting is competent to stand trial next month, a Belmont County judge ruled.
The trial of Tyler Duffy, 21, of 14 Elmwood Place, one of six co-defendants in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Gregg Thompson last year in Martins Ferry, is set for Oct. 31. Duffy is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary.
Duffy is the only adult co-defendant who remains charged with murder, while others — including the man who pulled the trigger — have since pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter.
Darrondres Dunn, 19, of Wheeling, who fired the fatal shot, was sentenced earlier to a 20-year term for voluntary manslaughter. Brothers Antonio Jones, 28, of Martins Ferry and Roderick Lee Jones, 23, of Benwood each pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Antonio Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while his brother will serve the maximum sentence of 11 years with one year for a gun specification, meaning Roderick Jones will serve a total of 12 years.
Jacob Aaron Lynch of McMechen has pleaded guilty to burglary and is awaiting sentencing. The sixth co-defendant is a minor, and the matter will be handled in juvenile court.
The prosecution noted that under Ohio law, if an individual participates in a crime, and someone dies in the course of that crime, then all involved can face the same charges. Prosecutors believe Duffy drove other co-defendants to the Jaycee Manor Apartments knowing there was a gun present.
The altercation reportedly began when one of the Jones brothers took offense to a social media post by Thompson. It is believed the gun was fired during the fight.
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