On Thursday, Dominic Berry pleaded to third degree murder moments before a jury was to be selected for his trial. The 19-year old was facing a life sentence if convicted in the 2010 shooting death of DeSean Alston. Berry had just turned 18 at the time of the shooting and was on probation from a previous drug related incident. After the murder he fled to Ohio where he was later captured by U.S. Marshals.
Berry's older brother, Norris Collins, 21, is serving out his sentence of 15-35 years. Collins pleaded guilty to third degree murder moments before a jury was selected in his trial. Collins was 19 when he accepted a plea agreement from prosecutors. Collins shot and killed Cortez Jordan in April 2008 outside of Solomon Homes. He was arrested a five days later in Pittsburgh by U.S. Marshals. Collins tried to appeal his case to withdraw his guilty plea but was unsuccessful.
Berry will be sentenced June 12, 2012. He agreed to a plea agreement of 15-30 years in jail but could face a maximum sentence of 50 years and a $200,000 fine.
