A Howard County jury Friday found Antajuan Wilson guilty of premeditated murder for gunning down a Columbia man who had “disrespected” him.
Wilson, 19, was found guilty on all five counts in the April 9 murder of Bryan Adams, 20, near the Wilde Lake Village Shopping Center on Twin Rivers Road.
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Prosecutors said they will be recommending life without parole for Wilson at his Feb. 20 sentencing before Howard Circuit Judge Richard Bernhardt.
The jury deliberated more than four hours before returning late Friday evening.
Moments after learning the verdict, Wilson’s grandmother turned to embrace Adams’ mother, Stacey Mangana, and thanked the family for their support throughout the weeklong trial.
Wilson, who testified Friday in his own defense, told police he armed himself with a knife about 11:15 a.m. April 9 and went to confront Adams and his two friends who had yelled at him for staring at them outside a Crown gas station moments earlier.
Wilson said he snatched a gun away from Adams and used it to fatally shoot him in self-defense.
Adams’ two friends, who were eyewitnesses, testified during the trial that Wilson pulled the gun— not Adams.
