Man pleads guilty in 2009 Pizza Hut murder in Wallace
By Staff Reports
Published in News on November 13, 2011 1:50 AM
KENANSVILLE -- A New Hanover County man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Thursday in Duplin County Superior Court and will spend the rest of his life in prison without the chance of parole.
Mario Brown, 24, pleaded guilty to the shooting death of Antonio Fenner, on June 9, 2009 at the Pizza Hut restaurant in Wallace.
Brown pleaded guilty to firing a weapon from the parking lot into the restaurant on June 9, 2009. Fenner, 20, who was working at the restaurant at the time, was mortally wounded. He died at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center after suffering two gunshot wounds, one to the head and one in the back. The weapon used was a .40 caliber handgun. Detectives found six shell casings at the scene.
Several other employees of the business were inside at the time of the shooting. Brown also pleaded guilty to discharging a weapon into occupied property and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Brown was apprehended in Pender County shortly after the shooting. The handgun was found in the car.
The prosecution was represented by District Attorney Ernie Lee and Assistant District Attorney Kelly B. Neal. Judge Paul Jones of Kinston presided.