Teenager Sentenced in Death of Milwaukee Club Promoter

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The courtroom was filled with family members and friends of club promoter Christopher Gray waiting to hear the sentencing of Melvin Jones, the teenage murderer of their lost loved one.

Jones was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 10 years of extended release on Friday May 8 for the murder of Gray. Jones was 16-years-old at the time of the murder. Accomplice Jonathon Sellers, who was sentenced earlier this year to 17 years and six months of prison with extended supervision of 12 years and 6 months, was 22 years old.

Gray came home on the evening of Nov.16, 2013 and was confronted by two robbers, Jones and Sellers.  Gray was then chased down the alley by Jones and Sellers, who proceeded to knock Gray down to the ground.  According to the prosecutor, Jones then repeatedly hit Gray in the face and head with a hammer that he found at Gray’s home.  After which, Jones and Sellers went through his pockets and stole money and an iPod.  Gray shortly died after the attack.

According to coroner reports Gray died from multiple blunt force traumas to the brain, heart and lungs.  According to the prosecuting attorney, Grant Huebner, “He was basically beaten to death.”

Huebner played footage of Jones’ first interviews after his arrest to show the court Jones’ lack of responsibility for his crimes.  Jones denied having a weapon in his possession at the time of murder, he denied ever being in the house and he denied hitting Gray at first.  Eventually Jones owns up to his actions.

During Jones’ statement in court, he continued to deny his involvement in the murder but takes responsibility for his actions.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Jensen said he gets angry when he, “represents a child who commits a horrendous crime under the influence and presence of an adult.”

Jensen disagrees with the court being more lenient with Sellers, describing it as a “miscarriage of justice.”

Jensen talked about Jones’ mental health issues, which include intellectual capabilities of a 7th or 8th grader, ADD and Bipolar disorder.  According to Jenson, Jones had a very difficult upbringing.

Huebner recommended that Jones receive 25 years in prison, which Judge Dugan granted because of the severity of this offense.

Judge Dugan does take into account Jones’ upbringing but also says actions like beating someone with a hammer to steal what is in his pockets reflects his character.

“Your childhood has led to this personality that won’t change over night,” Dugan said to Jones.

“This is an offense that strikes at the heart of our community.  The home is a sacred place,” said Judge Dugan. “You didn’t just break in his home and steal from him; you then chased and killed him.”  Dugan also mentioned that Jones lacked remorse for what he had done.

Gray’s mother, Lisa Fanroy said, “Melvin Jones never one day showed remorse for killing Chris.”  She described him as always having a hateful look on his face and appeared to just be angry that he was caught.

Numerous loved ones of Gray wore shirts that read, “Feel my pain,” which became a theme of the sentencing.  Family members and loved ones came forward to explain their loss and pain to the court and Jones.  A close friend of Gray’s, Michael W. Bickham came up and described what a loss Gray’s death was. He ended his statement by saying, “Close your eyes and feel my pain.  Feel my pain young man.  Feel our pain young man. This hurts.”

Loved ones described Gray as a hard-working man, a loving father and a happy person.

Gray left behind two children and many loved ones, “may God have mercy on his soul for what he did to Chris,” said Fanroy. “for the rest of our lives we are going to have to sit and think about what Melvin did.”