HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A 19-year-old man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old woman at a western North Carolina park will not face the death penalty, according to newly released court documents.
On May 19, Leron James Monteith was indicted for the killing of Izabella “Bella” Gamez at Dana Park in Henderson County.
Around one month later, Assistant District Attorney Van Buren told a judge that “there is evidence from which jury could conclude that the defendant committed the offense of first-degree murder,” per documents filed June 19 after a pretrial hearing in Henderson County. The court documents also state that there “may be evidence” that a jury could identify as “aggravating circumstances,” but the state will not pursue the death penalty…