Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
In November of 2011, 35-year-old Richard Anthony Strong allegedly shot and killed Ygnacio Bermudez Jr., a Lansing event promoter. News reports claim that Bermudez was found murdered in the 400 block of East Michigan Avenue in Lansing at around 2:15 a.m. following numerous 911 calls regarding shots fired. The police did not immediately arrest Strong, who had fled in a vehicle with another person prior to their arrival on the scene.
Bermudez had hosted a hip-hop event prior to his death, and promoted local talent in an effort to get people to engage in positive activities so they would stay off the streets, according to news reports. While police did not initially know what the motive was for the shooting, they did believe that Bermudez was not the victim of a random shooting, and that he was the target.
In November police were actively searching for Strong, who was wanted on felony warrant charges of felony firearm possession, felon in possession of a firearm, and open murder. Police eventually located the suspect in North Carolina in February. Throughout his trial, Strong maintained that he was innocent; he also testified on his own behalf.
On December 12, Ingham Circuit Judge Clinton Canady sentenced Strong, who is now 36 years old, to life in prison without parole. He will now spend the remainder of his life in prison. A conviction on first-degree murder charges carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole in Michigan.
Michigan homicide defense attorneys realize that murder is a horrific crime; however, there are also situations in which innocent people are convicted, or someone may have acted in self defense. Our prisons today are filled with individuals who are not guilty of the crimes they have been accused of.
If you have been arrested or charged with first-degree murder you could spend the rest of your life behind bars without an aggressive, effective Michigan criminal defense lawyer. Do not take risks with your freedom and future, consult with a capable attorney immediately.