JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Leroy Whitaker, also known as ATK Scotty, has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2020 death of Charles McCormick. 

He was also charged with being involved in a violent home invasion when he ran from the crime; being charged with burglary with assault or battery and home invasion robbery.

Whitaker was charged along with Jacksonville rapper Ksoo, real name Hakeem Robinson. Prosecutors said Robinson was the shooter, while Whitaker was in the car with him, helping hunt McCormick down. They also said Whitaker had his own gun loaded and was ready to fire if he needed to.

At the start of the trial, Whitaker’s attorney Julie Schlax said there would be no evidence that he was connected to the crime. There would only be evidence of a man who confessed he was an accomplice to the crime, Dominique Barner, she said.

Barner testified against Whitaker during the trial as part of a plea deal for a shortened sentence. He said the two had fled the murder scene, crashed a stolen car during a police chase, and ran off into a woman’s home. He corroborated the state’s narrative that the two stole the victim’s husband’s clothes, changing into them to hide evidence of the murder.

Schlax argued Barner was not trustworthy due to his confession in this crime and pleading guilty in another murder.

Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi said it would be foolish for Barner to lie, saying that he could still be sentenced to life in prison after the case. Finding out Barner lied would result in a much harsher sentence, Mizrahi said.