Killer of store clerk pleads guilty to avoid death penalty

The man who mortally wounded a store clerk despite the man's cooperation with his demands avoided the death penalty Friday when he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder and other charges in front of District Judge Jennifer Togliatti.

Deonte Marshall, 29, was caught on surveillance tape shooting Green Valley Grocery clerk Steve Inman, 60, in a robbery July 11, 2007. Inman, who was struck in the head, died four months later.

Marshall and his accomplice, Angel McClelland, 20, netted less than $90.

Marshall's public defender Ed Kane said this was the first case he's had where the murder was caught on videotape.

"This was very dramatic," said Kane. "It was caught on videotape and that would have been tough for a jury to see."

Marshall was captured in California early in 2008 after being featured on the television program "America's Most Wanted." He pleaded guilty to murder, conspiracy, robbery, burglary and ex-felon in possession of a firearm. He agreed to a term of life without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Oct. 27, Kane said.

McClelland was extradited from California after a grand jury indicted her earlier this month.

Inman took the clerk's job to help pay for his wife's cancer treatments. She died two weeks before he did after stopping those treatments to remain at his bedside,

Kane said by pleading guilty but mentally ill, Marshall will be able to access mental health care while in prison.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.