SAN ANTONIO – Despite being a fugitive, a judge on Wednesday sentenced a 26-year-old man to 50 years in prison.
Shortly before closing arguments were set to begin in his murder trial on Aug. 26, Kerry Gittens told his attorney he was going to the bathroom, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office said. Gittens didn't return to the courtroom and fled after cutting off his GPS ankle monitor, authorities said.
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Gittens was out on bond at the time.
Despite not being in court, Gittens was found guilty that same day in the shooting death of Antwan Jones. Officials said the victim was shot and killed in a hallway on Nov. 15, 2014, at a home on the city's East Side by co-defendant Tyree Byrd.
During the defendant's punishment hearing, prosecutors presented evidence of Gitten's past criminal history, which included involvements in multiple shootings, and drug and weapon related arrests.
"Antwan (Jones) was a productive member of this community, and when Kerry Gittens murdered him, he took away a pillar from that community," Assistant District Attorney Joshua Somers said.
U.S. Marshals are looking for Gittens. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call (210)335-TIPS (8477).