BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A 42-year-old man charged in connection with the shooting death of a 4-year-old boy was found guilty on Thursday on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
John Chatmon faces a punishment range of 25 to 99 years or life in prison due to his status as a habitual offender.
Chatmon, who was arrested in 2020 alongside three other suspects, was the last of four men charged in the case, according to Bexar County court records.
The shooting happened on July 19, 2017, when more than 60 rounds were fired into an East Side home. Inside, De’Earlvion Whitley, 4, was hit and killed in his bed.
Police later arrested Terrell Chase, Quentin Phillips, Todd Hill and Chatmon in connection with the case.
While the other three co-defendants have since taken plea deals or gone to trial, Chatmon’s case faced years of delays.
During the punishment phase, which is slated to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, the state plans to introduce evidence connected to Whitley’s death.
Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories.
Spencer Heath is a Digital Journalist at KSAT. Spencer graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied Radio-Television-Film. He’s worked as a journalist in San Antonio since June of 2022.
Outside the newsroom, he enjoys watching movies and spending time with family.