Appellants Maurice Flournoy and Michael Williams were tried jointly and each was convicted of felony murder with the underlying felony of aggravated assault by shooting the victim and related crimes stemming from an armed robbery during a drug buy.1 Both appellants filed a motion for new trial, which was denied. For the reasons set forth below, the appellants’ convictions are affirmed.
Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence shows Flournoy and Williams worked for the same employer as Jaylon Vanderford. Flournoy approached Vanderford about purchasing marijuana and Vanderford arranged a deal whereby his friend Aaron Gaddis would sell Flournoy five pounds of marijuana for $5,500. On May 27, 2006, Vanderford, accompanied by his girlfriend, Ashley Russell, drove to meet Flournoy at a convenience store so Flournoy could follow him to Gaddis’s house. Flournoy arrived with Williams, and instead of following Vanderford in a separate car, they got into the back seat of Vanderford’s vehicle and asked him to drive them to Gaddis’s residence. On the way, one or both appellants pointed a gun at Vanderford and Russell, and Flournoy told them they were being held up. In an apparent effort to demonstrate the gun was real, Flournoy told Williams to “click” the gun and to shoot Vanderford in the leg if he did not follow directions. Upon arriving at Gaddis’s house, Gaddis came out and got into the back seat of the car to conduct the transaction. Gaddis passed the marijuana to Flournoy who then passed it to Williams. Flournoy then informed Gaddis he was being robbed and commanded Gaddis to drop his trousers so he could confirm he was unarmed. Flournoy then ordered Vanderford to drive back to his car. On the way, Gaddis and Flournoy engaged in an argument and Gaddis apparently struck Flournoy. Vanderford and Russell heard a pop and then heard Flournoy exclaim to Williams, “You just shot him, man” Gaddis asked to be taken to the hospital, but Williams said, “No. . . . take us to the store.” Vanderford complied with Williams’s demand and dropped Flournoy and Williams off where they had parked Flournoy’s car. Vanderford then took Gaddis to the hospital where he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
