Copeland
WHITE PLAINS – A Mount Vernon man pled guilty in Westchester County Court on Thursday to murder and criminal possession of a weapon for killing another man in the lobby of an apartment building on December 12, 2014.
Phillip Copeland, 29, was charged with shooting Jlynn Reeves, 33, following a heated argument. A video surveillance camera recorded the two men arguing for about two minutes. Copeland walked toward a stairwell leading to the basement with Reeves following him.
Within 30 seconds, the security guard heard gunshots and called his supervisor on a walkie-talkie and 911.
When police arrived, they discovered Reeves’ body at the bottom of the basement stairs surrounded by several spent shell casings.
Police located Copeland about an hour-and-a-half after the shooting and found him in possession of a loaded .380 caliber automatic pistol. It was later determined through ballistic analysis to be the murder weapon.
Copeland faces up to 25 years to life in state prison when sentenced next month.
