A 22-year-old man was convicted of murder and acquitted on weapons charges Tuesday in the April 2019 shooting death of a Bloomington man at an outdoor party on the city’s east side.
Amari McNabb was charged with killing Juan Nash, 25, at a gathering on Orchard Road. McNabb also was convicted of mob action, but the McLean County jury did not find McNabb guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm.
McNabb was the last of three defendants charged in Nash’s murder. Scotty Allen is serving 50 years and Exodus Hebert was given 20 years on murder charges.
McNabb’s jury deliberated about six hours over two days before returning the verdicts following a week-long jury trial.
In closing arguments Monday, prosecutor Aaron Fredrick laid out a timeline for the April 2, 2019, slaying. McNabb and the other two defendants went to the party in the 1200 block of Orchard Road for about 15 minutes before going to Pheasant Lanes bowling alley where they plotted the slaying, said Fredrick.
The state asked jurors to consider circumstantial evidence that McNabb obtained a weapon following an internet search for a .380-caliber gun hours before the shooting. No witnesses reported seeing McNabb with a gun, the prosecutor acknowledged.
Nash suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries inflicted by .380-caliber bullets.
Defense lawyer John Miraglia argued that McNabb acted in self-defense during the incident that left two others hit with gunfire. Nash fired 14 rounds during the deadly exchange. He left the scene in another man’s car and crashed into a home several blocks away.
When he is sentenced Oct. 27, McNabb faces 20 to 60 years in prison.
