Appellant Keshon Terrell Stovall, also known as Archie Copprue, was convicted of and sentenced for the malice murder of Christopher King, for possession of the firearm he used in King’s murder, and for possession of the firearm his co-indictee used in King’s murder.1 We affirm the murder conviction and one of the convictions for firearm possession, and vacate the other conviction.2 1. The State presented evidence that the body of the victim was found on February 4, 2000, lying in a remote area of the parking area of the victim’s place of employment. His employer testified the victim had worked until 9 p.m. on February 3. The victim had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and head, and a clear plastic bag containing white powder was found near his right hand. Several .22-caliber shell casings were found in the area of the body, as was a 9mm-caliber shell casing. The medical examiner who performed an autopsy on the body testified the victim had suffered five gunshot wounds, three of which were fatal: the “larger bullet” that had been fired into the back of the victim’s head, a shot in the groin area that lacerated the victim’s liver, and a shot that penetrated the victim’s right chest, causing internal hemorrhaging. The two non-fatal gunshot wounds were to the victim’s right shoulder and right chest.
Appellant’s fiancee, currently serving a prison sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, testified appellant was also known as “Bird.” She said appellant was angry with the victim in January 2000 because appellant had purchased what turned out to be imitation cocaine through the victim and appellant wanted the victim to reimburse him $4500. In late January, appellant rented a car and drove to Chicago where he posted bond for his brother, and the duo returned to Atlanta. On a night in early February, appellant and his brother went to an apartment where the victim formerly had spent several nights, and the occupant, a friend of the victim who was indicted with appellant and his brother, testified appellant and his brother were dressed in black. The co-indictee also testified that appellant showed him the gun he was carrying inside his waistband, told him the victim owed appellant $4800, and stated that “someone has to pay.” The occupant, who worked with the victim, took the visitors to the parking lot of the business where the victim worked. The following evening, appellant returned to the co-indictee’s apartment and told him the victim “was taken care of.” Appellant’s girlfriend testified she met appellant, his brother, and the co-indictee on the night of February 3 and appellant told her they had killed the victim and placed a bag of imitation cocaine beside him. Appellant’s brother told her appellant had been scared when appellant shot the victim and appellant’s brother had shot the victim in the head. The girlfriend saw appellant and his brother clean two handguns —a 9mm-caliber and a .22-caliber —and put them in a black duffle bag that appellant’s brother took with him to Indiana. Appellant’s brother’s girlfriend, a prisoner in an Illinois penal institution, testified that appellant had bonded his brother out of jail in late January 2000 and had taken him to Atlanta. When the brother returned in early February from Atlanta, he brought a black duffel bag and told her appellant had shot the victim and appellant’s brother had had “to finish it” by shooting the victim in the head. Representatives of the Cook County, Illinois jail, a locksmith, and a car-rental agency provided testimony corroborative of details given by the two jailed women and the co-indictee.
