Valton Cooper | Chicago Police
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
One of two men charged with a shooting at an Englewood gas station in 2013 that left Devorite Diggins dead has been found not guilty.
Valton Cooper, 25, was acquitted of first-degree murder Thursday after a bench trial before Judge James Orbish, according to Cook County court records. Cooper was charged with the Nov. 13, 2013, murder of the 21-year-old Diggins.
Diggins and his 21-year-old cousin entered the station in the 800 block of West 59th Street about 2:20 p.m. and began talking with an associate of Diggins’ cousin, authorities said.
Trevonti Carson | Cook County sheriff’s office
The cousin shook hands multiple times with the associate then the pair attempted to leave the store, but the associate cut them off and the pair ran to the back of the store, authorities said.
A group of males—which prosecutors had alleged included Cooper—then cornered Diggins inside, and Trevonti Carson shot him in the upper back and abdomen area, prosecutors said.
A wounded Diggins called out for his cousin, who was hiding in another part of the store, prosecutors said. The cousin tried to run out of the store but was shot in the right arm.
Diggins, 21, of the 6200 block of South Aberdeen Street, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
His cousin suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Carson is also charged with murder and is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 22.