A man charged in the murder of Birmingham, Alabama nursing student Destiny Washington was found guilty Tuesday.
Jurors, after almost two days of deliberations and at one point telling the judge they could not agree on a verdict, convicted 24-year-old Carlos Stephens of capital murder.
The jury late Monday afternoon indicated they appeared to be deadlocked on reaching a consensus. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kechia Davis then issued an Allen charge, sometimes called a dynamite charge, telling jurors to keep deliberating.
They returned at 9 a.m. Tuesday to resume deliberations and returned the guilty verdict before noon.
Sentencing is set for May 18. The only sentence Stephens can receive is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Stephens’ family was allowed to embrace him following the verdict.
“I’m totally disappointed,’’ said Stephens’ attorney, Emory Anthony.
Prosecutors said they were pleased with the verdict.
“We are very grateful for the jury’s attention throughout the entire week of trial and their careful review of the evidence presented,’’ said Deputy District Attorney Ashley Patterson. “We hope that this verdict provides closure for the family and friends of Destiny Washington and that they are able to begin the healing process.”
Washington was shot to death at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in the parking lot of UAB’s student center on University Boulevard.
The deadly shooting happened during the sale of a pair of AirPods that Washington’s boyfriend was selling to Stephens’ girlfriend, a deal that had been brokered through Facebook Marketplace earlier that day.
The transaction went sour amid accusations of counterfeit money and fake AirPods and ended with a deadly shot fired by Stephens.
Stephens, a former standout football player at Thompson High School who went on to play at UAB his freshman year, surrendered to police two days later.
He has remained in the Jefferson County Jail without bond since Dec. 21, 2020.
Stephens is represented by attorneys Anthony and Bobby Lendell Davis.
Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Jessica Hebson prosecuted the case with Patterson.
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