Alonzo “Zo” Wiley (Photo from his Facebook page)
A Louisiana man was convicted of killing a barbershop owner, shooting him three times, then covering his head with a pillow and shooting him twice more in the face in a robbery, prosecutors said.
A jury convicted Raymond “Ray” Lee, 38, on Friday of second-degree murder in the killing of Alonzo “Zo” Wiley, 35, prosecutors said in a Saturday news release.
The murder happened before dawn on Dec. 5, 2021, in the months after Hurricane Ida, when Wiley had been staying at a motel. Also staying there were Lee, a convicted batterer, and his girlfriend. The slaying happened after Lee texted Wiley, lying to him, putting him at ease so he would “freely allow him into his motel room,” prosecutors said. Citing police, The New Orleans Times-Picayune said the two men had been arranging a sexual encounter.
In the room, Lee tried to rob Wiley but shot him during a struggle when Wiley tried to get away, authorities said. Police found Wiley dead inside.
Investigators also got their first lead. Motel surveillance video showed someone driving Wiley’s new BMW from the motel behind a black Jeep Cherokee four minutes after the 911 call. The Cherokee belonged to Lee’s girlfriend.
Weeks later, detectives found the Cherokee — with Lee inside — at another motel. In his motel room, detectives found a bag of 9 mm ammunition — the same kind as the spent casings found at the crime scene. Lee’s iPhone had texts with Wiley. On Lee’s phone, police found a video of a stolen 9 mm pistol. The gun belonged to Wiley’s niece, who bought it and allowed Wiley to carry it, authorities said.
Cellphone location data showed Lee had been in the immediate area at the time of the murder.
Lee initially told detectives he was not at the scene, saying he had been at a lakefront at the time of the murder. He later admitted to texting and meeting with Wiley but denied killing him.
His attorney accused the Sheriff’s Office of fabricating evidence, prosecutors said.
Lee’s girlfriend was not involved and was not charged in the case.
Lee was convicted in 2019 of second-degree battery. In addition to the conviction for Wiley’s murder, he was convicted of obstruction of justice for removing the pistol he used in the killing and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He’s set to be sentenced on March 7.
The killing of Wiley, a U.S. Navy veteran and beloved owner of The Grooming Gallery, shattered family and friends.
“It was senseless,” Wiley’s niece, Azona Wiley, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “If someone needed something from him, he would have given it. Even if you robbed him, you didn’t have to kill him.”
His obituary said he was generous, dependable, loyal, handsome, and stylish.
“These are just some of the words to describe our charismatic Alonzo,” the obit read. “We knew him as Zomula and he lived life to the fullest and on his own terms. He kept a smile on his face and uplifted everyone in his presence. He was the first person to call when you needed something and always the life of the party.”
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