Marquez Breon Springs-Owens, 33, and James Evans, 32, were sentenced to life in prison on March 3, 2020 in Charlotte, NC. Marquez and James were convicted of killing 34-year-old Norris Martin, whose body was found in a burned car in Gaston County North Carolina.
On December 30, 2015, Norris was riding with a friend who met a group of four men to conduct a drug transaction. But the four men – Marquez, James and two others had planned to conduct a robbery during the drug transaction.
A gun was pulled to fatally shoot Norris in the back of the neck. Norris was then tied up by Marquez.
The suspects drove the car containing Mr. Norris’ body to Gaston County North Carolina. The vehicle was set on fire in a school parking lot. Norris was left for dead.
Responding to 911 calls of a fire, the burning vehicle was found and James was arrested as he attempted to flee from the area.
James and Marquez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The two other suspects in this case, Germonta Wallace and Jay Phifer, are now deceased from unrelated incidents.
