Three months after a gas station robbery left a clerk shot in the head and a community outraged, a Lynchburg man who prosecutors called the mastermind in the crime pleaded guilty Monday.
Kionne Pulley, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated malicious wounding, robbery, wearing a mask in public and two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony in the April 24 incident.
He faces up to life in prison when he is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 19.
The victim, 37-year-old Abderrahin Elfilali, was a well-known and beloved institution in the community. Patrons of the Campbell Avenue store called him “Poppi.”
Customers’ displays of well-wishing gathered at the store for more than a week. A vigil in early May drew more than 100 people.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Felmlee told Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge Mosby Perrow that Pulley set out to rob the store with five juveniles. Felmlee said Pulley was the mastermind in this robbery and another a week earlier at the Sunshine Market on Pollard Street.
During the Citgo robbery, Pulley got frustrated with Elfilali and shot him in the head with a .40-caliber pistol, Felmlee said.
“The defendant was standing less than 10 feet away from Mr. Elfilali before he shot the unarmed man at point-blank range in the forehead,” he said.
Pulley first told investigators he had been at a relative’s home the night of the shooting, but later admitted his role in the robbery.
Felmlee also told the court he had recorded jailhouse phone calls in which Pulley bragged to friends about the effect the bullet had on the man’s head.
Elfilali survived, but has difficulty with his speech, balance and vision and will never be able to live alone, Felmlee said.
Jacob Hudson, the 17-year-old getaway driver in both robberies, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of robbery and one count of aggravated malicious wounding. Hudson agreed to testify against other defendants in the case in exchange for his plea.
Keshawn Hubbard, 17; Damontez Hubbard, 15; Jonathan Jackson, 18; and Travis Thomas, 17; have been charged in connection with the case. Jackson and the Hubbards are scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 15 on charges of aggravated malicious wounding, robbery and two counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony.
Jackson and Keshawn Hubbard are also charged with wearing a mask in public.
Thomas’ case remains in Lynchburg’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court where the clerk’s office has closed access to his file. Thomas testified against the juveniles in their preliminary hearing. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.
All but Thomas are jailed at the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center.
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