A 22-year old Rapid City man has been convicted of 2nd-degree murder in a Christmas Eve 2020 revenge killing in Rapid City.
Elias Richard faces a mandatory term of life in prison when he’s sentenced September 26th in the death of 31-year-old Vernall Marshall. The trial ran 4 days last week in Rapid City.
Prosecutors say Richard, 22-year old Kaleb Lukkes, 21-year old Clint Marshall, and 42-year old Masheka Barnett set up a fake drug buy so they could attack Vernal Marshall for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a teenage relative.
Testimony at the trial saw multiple witnesses ID Richard as the person who shot Marshall after luring him into a car.
    Clint Marshall, who was not related to Vernall Marshall, pled Guilty earlier to aiding and abetting 1st-degree robbery and testified against Richard yesterday as part of his plea agreement while Barnett and Lukkes are awaiting trial.
Barnett is charged with aiding and abetting aggravated assault with Lukkes charged with aiding and abetting murder.