Calbert “Calbo” Cosby convicted of the murder of Devonte Gary

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN) — A Warren County jury has found Calbert “Calbo” Cosby guilty of the June 2024 murder of Devonte Gary at AB Food Mart.

Judge James Chaney set sentencing for another date.

The three-day trial lasted from Tuesday through Thursday. Assistant District Attorneys Michael Warren and Branan Southerland represented the state, while Cosby was represented by defense attorneys Tracie Herring and Noah Drake.

Prosecutors said Gary was shot and killed in June 2024 at AB Food Mart. Testimony during the trial revealed that Cosby was accused of being a passenger in a vehicle that opened fire, striking Gary multiple times and causing his death.

Video surveillance shown in court captured a white Chrysler 300 parked at the gas station. Shortly afterward, Gary and a friend, Jerome Turner, arrived at the store. An eyewitness testified that Cosby was seated on the passenger side of the Chrysler and opened fire.

Gary was transported to a hospital in another vehicle following the shooting.

In court, it was stated that the Chrysler was occupied by Jermaine Johnson, Cosby, Willie Johnson and Wilmar Johnson. Jermaine Johnson, and Wilmar Johnson each testified that Cosby was the shooter. Turner also testified that Cosby was the man firing the weapon.

Herring argued that Jermaine Johnson testified in exchange for a better deal. Jermaine Johnson is currently pleading for his role in the incident. Herring also told jurors there was no physical evidence linking Cosby to being the individual in the front passenger seat.

After the shooting, Jermaine Johnson and Cosby fled to the Memphis area, where they were captured weeks later.

During closing arguments, Drake told jurors that the Warren County Sheriff’s Office failed to conduct a proper investigation and urged them to find his client not guilty.

Warren and Southerland asked jurors to return a guilty verdict. After approximately 40 minutes of deliberation, all 12 jurors returned guilty verdicts on both the murder and drive-by shooting charges.