BRADENTON -- A Manatee County jury has convicted two men of first-degree murder in the 2019 robbery of a smoke shop.
Amado Zeppi, now 23, and Coty Paulk, 24, were two of four men accused of the crime at the Green Galaxy Smoke Shop in September of 2019. Prosecutors told jurors that Zeppi shot and killed 23-year-old Mohammed Hamed, as he sat on the floor obeying their commands. The entire robbery and murder were captured on video, and Hamed's brother watched remotely, unable to do anything but watch his sibling lose his life.
Two of the four suspects entered pleas and testified against Zeppi and Paulk, who wore masks during the robbery.
Paulk was sentenced Friday to life in prison on each count. Zeppi will be sentenced at a later date.
Photos: Canva/MCSO/12th SAO