PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Portsmouth jury found a man charged in a quadruple murder case not guilty on all counts Friday.
The verdict came at the end of a four-day trial of 58-year-old Raymond Gore, one of the two men accused of killing four people at a Maple Avenue home in Prentis Park in June 2022.
Defense attorneys Michael Massie and Nathan Chapman told reporters their client was elated by the verdict.
"This has been quite an ordeal. This matter was dismissed in the General District Court in the preliminary hearing level and then when he was re-indicted, he was placed back into custody. So, this has had a real dramatic effect upon him and his wife," said Massie.
Gore was acquitted of all indictments, including aggravated murder for all four victims, use of a firearm while committing a murder, and four counts of shooting the victims.
On June 7, 2022, responding police officers found three people dead at the scene. A fourth victim died at the hospital days later. The victims were:
- 30-year-old Georgio Lee
- 34-year-old Ashley Merricks
- 37-year-old Oleisha Mears
- 66-year-old Samuel Jones
The verdict was reached only roughly one hour after the jury began deliberations around 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Before closing arguments, jurors went to the neighborhood where the deadly quadruple shooting happened. They stood on Lasalle Avenue and overlooked Maple Avenue, where the prosecution’s main eyewitness said he saw the shooting start to unfold.
Michael Canty testified he saw Gore outside the house with his nephew and another man, Gore knocked on the door and shot one of the victims, Ashley Merricks. Canty said he took off running, then heard several more gunshots.
RELATED: Jury hears from prosecutors' star witness during trial for quadruple murder suspect in Portsmouth
During closing arguments, prosecutors reiterated Canty’s recollection of the day of the shooting. They also focused on Gore's previous statements made to police. This week, the lead detective testified Gore changed stories about a black SUV Canty claimed he saw near the crime scene.
Defense attorneys held a poster board before the jury with an enlarged “get out of jail free" card during closing arguments. They wanted to paint Canty as an informant who testified out of self-interest because he has an outstanding probation violation in Portsmouth.
He was getting consideration for that charge from the prosecutor in exchange for testimony in the quadruple murder case. Defense attorneys also described Canty as an untruthful person with a lengthy criminal history.
"The verdict was appropriate. The Commonwealth relied on one witness in particular: Michael Canty. He had made several very inconsistent statements throughout the proceedings," said Massie.
"There was countless hours we spent reviewing evidence we thought could be presented [...] So we were prepared for anything the Commonwealth could present, as well as legal arguments that you saw us make, we were prepared for those and then we also concentrated on the actual procedure of the trial," said Chapman.
Additionally, defense attorneys brought up how Canty texted while on the witness stand and lied about the nature of his texts to the judge.
“He had an extensive record, but snitches come in all forms, and they often have long records,” said Massie.
While Gore walks free, his lawyer believes the people or persons responsible for the murders are still out there.
"These are four innocent people whose lives were taken. I would hope that it does not end today and that the pieces that they did not investigate, that they may take more time and at least explore those things to at least eliminate them."
On Friday evening, the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's Office issued a statement in response to the verdict returned in Gore's jury trial:
"The Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's Office respects the decision of the Portsmouth citizens who served as jurors in this trial. Our attorneys presented the evidence as it was revealed during the investigative process. Although the outcome was not as we hoped, our team will continue to stand by the families of the four innocent victims whose lives were lost to this horrendous crime that should never have happened and which must not be tolerated in our city. We are committed to remaining steadfast in our pursuit of justice for victims of violent crime."
Gore's nephew, Antwann Gore, also faces grand jury indictments in connection to the quadruple murder. Massie could not elaborate on the type of impact Raymond's acquittal would have on Antwann's case. He is scheduled to go on trial in June.