Armed Robber Who Killed Clerk Sentenced To Life In Prison

Armed Robber Who Killed Clerk Sentenced To Life In Prison

An armed robber who killed a convenience store clerk in 2019 was sentenced this week to life in prison for murder, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.

“This defendant had no regard for anyone else when he used a gun to rob and steal, and now the victim’s family will never again see this hardworking and beloved woman,” Ogg said. “This agreement ensures that the defendant will spend decades in prison with no appeals.”

Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis, 24, was facing life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder for shooting 32-year-old Donna Peña, a mother of two who was killed while working at a gas station in northwest Harris County on March 8, 2019.

 

Harris County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and collected evidence, including surveillance video of the crime. The man who shot Peña was seen on video wearing a blue hoodie, which police found in the subdivision behind the gas station.

DNA taken from the hoodie matched a DNA sample from Cox-Davis.

Cox-Davis decided on Monday to plead guilty to murder in exchange for life in prison. As part of the agreement, he cannot appeal his conviction or the prison sentence. He must serve at least 30 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole.

Assistant District Attorney Chandler Raine, who is a chief in the DA’s Homicide Division, prosecuted the case with ADA Michael Hanover, who is also a felony chief.

“He gave this woman about two seconds to open the cash register before he opened fire, killing her,” Raine said. “It is just an awful case, and this was the right decision for the victim’s family who want to put this ordeal behind them so they can mourn in peace.”

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