Hung jury on murder charge for 17-year-old accused in 2022 fatal shooting, acquitted on other charges

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A trial in Portsmouth ended on Thursday in a hung jury on the murder charge for a teen accused of playing a part in the 2022 fatal shooting death of 17-year-old Jesse Hogg, as well as an acquittal on two gun charges and grand larceny.

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for two and a half hours before telling the judge they were deadlocked on the most serious charge against Tristan Johnson, Jr. (16 at the time), in which they had three options: guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder, or not guilty.

The murder trial began Monday, June 24, where two neighbors who live on Sykes Avenue and Vick Street testified to hearing gunshots in the area before both neighbors called 911. Johnson was 16 at the time of the shooting.

One neighbor claimed to hearing a total of 10 gunshots and then calling 911. While on the phone, the neighbor said he found Hogg lying in a front yard and told 911 operators he could not feel his pulse. Hogg died from 10 gunshot wounds that came from two different guns.

Johnson, along with three other individuals, were supposedly in the area to purchase a gun from Hogg.

On Tuesday, the Commonwealth rested their case and Judge Brenda Spry reduced Johnson’s original aggravated murder charge to first-degree murder.

A Portsmouth detective testified on Tuesday, saying that Johnson felt pressured by his co-defendant, then 17-year-old Phirondus “Rondo” Clemon, to steal Hogg’s gun instead of buying it.

None of the gun evidence or DNA analysis pointed to Johnson as the one who shot Hogg.

The case began with four defendants ranging in age from 13 to 18 at the time of Hogg’s death. The 13-year-old pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court and is serving a sentence in the Juvenile Justice System. Clemon (17 at the time) and his girlfriend Analwah Jones (18 at the time) have court dates later this year.

Because the jury deadlocked on Johnson’s murder charge, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office confirmed late Thursday they will retry Johnson on that charge. Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Joyce Weddle, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Bernie Gerlach and defense attorney Von Piersall III will meet July 15 with Judge Brenda Spry to discuss the future of the case.