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Man convicted of murder in shooting of 5-year-old on Halloween

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A man was convicted of murder Wednesday in the shooting death of a 5-year-old on Halloween in 2010.

A jury in Los Angeles found Leonard Hall Jr., 26, guilty of one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. The jury also found gang and gun allegations true.

Two previous juries were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in trials to determine whether Hall was the gunman who killed Aaron Shannon Jr. Wednesday’s verdict marked the end of the third trial in the case. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced July 21.

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During the trial, the prosecution argued that Hall and Marcus Denson, a fellow gang member, passed through the alley behind Aaron’s home in the 1000 block of East 84th Street in Florence. William Shannon, Aaron’s grandfather, testified that he heard gunshots after the men passed through the alley. When he turned to face the gunman, he saw Hall, he said.

Family members tried to resucitate Aaron, who was hit in the head, before an ambulance arrived. Aaron died at a hospital the following day.

Denson was arrested four days after the shooting and took a plea deal resulting in about 25 years in prison. He testified that Hall, who lived in the same neighborhood as Aaron’s family, was the shooter in all three trials.

Carol Ojo, Hall’s defense attorney, argued that the investigation of Hall was biased and that witnesses identified a third person as a possible suspect.

jerome.campbell@latimes.com

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