SCRANTON — A jury found Shelton Miles guilty of first-degree murder for killing a customer at the Sunoco on North Main Avenue during a robbery on March 7, 2024.
Jurors deliberated for just over an hour Monday afternoon after the prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments in the morning.
During a weeklong trial, prosecution witnesses focused on the facts of the case that were mainly undisputed by both sides. Prosecutors showed jurors a video of Miles, 65, of 401 W. Market St., shooting Jose Miguel Tatis-Camilo of Hazleton, stepping over his body, shooting cashier Gopi Soni in the thigh, filling his pockets with cash and then fleeing the scene.
District Attorney Brian Gallagher addresses the media after Shelton Miles was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of another man in March of 2024. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Conversely, in support of their “not guilty by reason of insanity” plea, the defense centered its argument on expert witnesses who said Miles was incapable of clear judgment and didn’t understand what he was doing.
In his charge to the jury before deliberations, Lackawanna County Judge Terrence R. Nealon told them that in addition to a verdict of “guilty” or “not guilty,” jurors could also find Miles “not guilty by reason of insanity” or “guilty, but mentally ill.”
In addition to finding Miles guilty of first-degree murder, the jury found him guilty of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault and theft. Following the verdict, District Attorney Brian Gallagher said he was not surprised at the speed with which the jury returned with a guilty verdict.
The verdict, he said, sent a clear message that crime would not be tolerated in Lackawanna County. He credited his team at the district attorney’s office and Scranton police with working together to bring the case to a guilty verdict.
But Gallagher said it was difficult to be truly happy about the victory, because it involved the death of an innocent young man and injury to a young woman who was simply trying to do her job and make her life better.
Science vs. facts
Prosecution witnesses focused on the facts of the case, which were undisputed by both sides.
Defense attorneys said Miles had been suffering from dementia and had reached out for help just weeks before the crime, when he told a doctor he was confused and had periods of forgetfulness.
During his closing argument, defense attorney Curt Parkins said his case was predicated on the science of the case.
A combination of post-traumatic stress disorder, bouts of diabetes and substance abuse resulted in Miles suffering from dementia, he said.
He showed the jury a video of Miles being transported to the police station after he was arrested two hours after he shot Tatis-Camilo.
That video shows him asking out loud, “What did I do?” and “Why am I here?”
He emphasized that defense expert Jeffrey Fremont, a psychologist, did extensive cognitive testing of Miles and concluded that he was cognitively impaired and had a reduced intellectual capacity.
Deputy District Attorney Sara Varela told jurors that they should focus on the facts of the case.
“The facts of the case, the evidence, is the only reason that we’re here,” she said. “The facts are absolutely relevant.”
She showed the jury another piece of video of Miles being transported to the police station after his arrest. In that part of the video, he says to himself, “It’s over. It’s done. It’s death. It’s over.”
She told jurors Miles had spent hours gambling at a convenience store, before deciding he wanted to go to a casino and do some real gambling.
The robbery, she said, was his effort to get money to fund that trip to the casino.
She described Miles’ actions on the night of the murder as “planned, prepared and premeditated.”
Nealon said had Miles been found guilty of only first-degree murder, a sentence of life in prison could have been imposed Monday. But, because Miles was found guilty on other counts there would be a presentencing report and sentencing would be imposed within 90 days.