VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A grand jury will hear the case of a Virginia Beach man accused of murdering a high school football player last year.
A judge certified a second-degree murder charge against Jacob Alexander Meadows on Monday morning.
Meadows is accused of killing 17-year-old Chris Ross, who played football at Ocean Lakes High School.
Meadows' attorney, James Broccoletti, claims it was a case of self-defense. He said his client felt threatened as Ross displayed a gun while stealing a quarter pound of marijuna. He said Ross then turned toward him as he was running away and Meadows did not know what was going to happen next.
He said an autopsy report strengthens his claim. He said it showed Ross was shot in the front and back of his body.
"[Ross] displayed the weapon during the course of the robbery, was leaving and then turned toward Mr. Meadows and other people," Broccoletti said. "I think that the evidence is very strong in respect to self-defense."
Prosecutors called a Virginia Beach Police Sergeant in the Homicide Unit to testify about an interview with Meadows.
At first, he said the suspect denied any involvement in the shooting, until after his mother told police he was in the Virginia Beach area when it happened.
Meadows also allegedly tried to hide evidence by throwing his gun off of the Pungo Ferry Bridge as he left the scene to go home. The weapon is still missing.
Prosecutors claim Ross never threatened Meadows and that the suspect shot to stop him from getting away.
Last week, a teenager pleaded guilty to charges made in connection with Ross' death.
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