Gwynn gets 17 years in prison

4:10 p.m. UPDATE:

Jerry Wayne Gwynn Jr. was sentenced to 17 years in prison Thursday by a Pittsylvania County Circuit Court jury. The jury previously found him not guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Johnny Flando Calloway.

Gwynn was sentenced to:

-- Six years for being a principal in the second degree in a burglary.

-- Three years for attempted robbery.

-- Three years for using a firearm in an attempted robbery.

-- Five years for possession of a firearm by a violent felon.

NOON UPDATE:

Jurors in the first-degree murder trial of Jerry Wayne Gwynn Jr. still have not reached a verdict, and have taken a break for lunch. Deliberations will resume this afternoon in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Jurors deliberating what the state called “a drug robbery gone bad” could reach a verdict Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of Jerry Wayne Gwynn Jr., the man charged in connection with the August shooting death of Johnny Flando Calloway.

Jurors heard closing arguments Wednesday afternoon before deliberating for almost two and a half hours. By 4:45 p.m., they had not reached a verdict, so Pittsylvania County Circuit Court Judge Charles Strauss told them to return at 9 a.m. Thursday to continue deliberations.

Gwynn, 33, of 634 Monument St. in Danville, is charged with murder and several other charges in connection with the killing of Calloway, 31, during a double shooting at Calloway’s residence at 404 Coleman Estates Road. Terry Dwayne King, 32, was also killed during the incident, and authorities believe Calloway shot King, and then Gwynn shot Calloway.

Shortly before midnight on Aug. 1, county sheriff’s deputies received a call that two people had been shot at the residence just outside Danville. Deputies found King and Calloway lying inside the home. They were pronounced dead by EMS personnel.

During his closing argument, Chief Deputy Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Haskins said Gwynn is charged with being an accomplice to King, with the intent to rob Calloway, who was defending his home when he was shot, Haskins said.

“This is a very simple case,” Haskins told jurors.

Gwynn and King intended to steal drugs, Haskins said.

“This was not a drug deal gone bad,” Haskins said. “This is a drug robbery gone bad.”

Gwynn rushed in and shot Calloway because Calloway had just shot and killed his friend (King), Haskins said. Calloway had every right to defend himself, Haskins said.

Haskins said cell phone records provide evidence that Gwynn was involved.

However, defense attorney Carolyn Furrow said there is no forensic evidence placing Gwynn at 404 Coleman Estates Road that night or linking him to either killing. The commonwealth could not tell the jury what kind of gun killed Calloway, Furrow said during her closing argument.

Furrow reminded jurors to seriously consider the cell phone records before making a decision, and she said the cell phone that the state is using as evidence actually belonged to Gwynn’s mother.

Also, there’s no proof of a drug robbery, Furrow said.

If the jury finds Gwynn guilty, it would be based on gossip, Furrow said. There is no DNA or fingerprints proving that Gwynn was at the scene of the crime, she said.

In his counterargument, Haskins said he had no DNA, fingerprints or murder weapon, but “I have the murderer in front of you.”

Even though the cell phone belongs to Gwynn’s mother, there are pictures of himself on it, Haskins said.

Charges and events

» Jerry Wayne Gwynn is charged with murder in connection with the August killing of Johnny Flando Calloway during a double shooting at Calloway’s residence at 404 Coleman Estates Road.

» Terry Dwayne King was also killed during the incident.

» Authorities believe Calloway shot King, and then Gwynn shot Calloway.