Henrico jury finds man guilty of first-degree murder

Circumstantial evidence from 25 witnesses over two days convinced a Henrico County jury yesterday that a drive-by shooting in Essex Village apartments last year was first-degree murder.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Heidi Barshinger and Owen Conway argued that evidence in the case established that Lamar D. Jordan, 26, of the 1200 block of Middleberry Drive in Henrico gunned down Rayvell B. Fitzgerald on Nov. 7 last year with a single shot from an assault rifle.

Fitzgerald, 21, suffered a wound to the chest. Jordan, who owned a red sports car identified at the scene, admitted on the stand that he was in the area and said that an errant gunshot intended for him may have killed Fitzgerald, of the 100 block of East 34th Street in South Richmond. The weapon was not recovered.

The jury recommended a life sentence, as well as three years for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and 10 years for shooting from a vehicle. Formal sentencing will take place in January.

Fitzgerald had been having a loud argument with a woman prior to the 9 a.m. shooting. -- Bill McKelway