Murder on Market Street: Jury finds Roberts guilty of second degree murder

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — UPDATE:

A Hamilton County jury has found Darryl Roberts guilty of second degree murder for the shooting death of Christopher Wright on Market Street in September 2023.

The prosecution argued the murder was premeditated as Roberts took multiple steps towards Wright, and made the choice to pull the trigger despite the chance to stop.

The defense was pushing for a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

The jury briefly entered phase two of this trial in which they also found Roberts guilty of 'unlawful possession of a handgun.'

Roberts had a 2009 firearm offense that means he should not have been in possession of one, which a circuit court clerk testified to.

Roberts will be sentenced in late July.

The family of Chris Wright released a statement on Roberts conviction, saying...

"While no verdict can bring Christopher back, we find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served. We will honor his memory by continuing to live with the same kindness and warmth he shared with the world."

Read the full statement below:

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Watch our live coverage below:

Depend on us to keep you posted.

UPDATE:

The jury in the murder trial for Darryl Roberts is continuing its deliberation Tuesday morning.

Jurors got the case at 3:30 p.m., and deliberated 3 hours before calling it a day.

They resumed Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.

We're keeping a close tab on those deliberations. Depend on us to keep you posted. Read our earlier coverage below:

EARLIER:

Defense attorneys for Darryl Roberts rested their case Monday on the fifth day of his trial in Chattanooga.

Monday afternoon, the jurors began to hear closing arguments from both sides.

Per Judge Boyd Patterson's instructions, here are the possible verdicts for the jury to decide:

• First degree pre-meditated murder
• Second degree murder
• Voluntary manslaughter
• Aggravated assault
• Reckless homicide
• Reckless aggravated assault
• Criminally negligent homicide
• Assault
• Reckless endangerment
• Not guilty

Watch our live, continuing coverage below:

Roberts is accused of murdering Chris Wright, who was celebrating his high school reunion at point-blank range on a Market Street sidewalk.

During testimony, Attorney Steve Smith described how Roberts felt during his confrontation with Wright.

"Mr. Roberts didn’t know if Mr. Wright was a UFC fighter, had a gun in his pocket..."

Just after 11:20 a.m., Judge Boyd Patterson began instructing the jury.

Closing arguments began just before 1:30 p.m.

During which, Prosecutor Andrew Coyle argued:

"That barrel is on a forehead and you pull the trigger, there is no other thing that could happen than to cause the death of that individual."

Coyle also urged jurors not to be influenced by anything outside of the footage capturing Wright's death.

"Do not let someone tell you what you see in this video."

The defense, however, encouraged jurors to consider the details of the case.

"This is a horrible case," Smith said. "A lot of shootings in Chattanooga, across the state of Tennessee. Are they all first degree murder? They’re not. That’s your job."

Smith also said Roberts and Wright came from different communities that may have impacted Roberts’ reactions.

He suggested voluntary manslaughter.

"But just watching the video, being angered by it, that’s mob justice. You sit between this defendant and the State of Tennessee," Smith said.

Smith reminded jurors what's at stake for Roberts.

"My client's being asked to lose the rest of his life."

Watch our live continuous coverage of Monday's testimony below:

Jurors took Good Friday off. On Thursday, they began to hear testimony from Roberts himself. Get caught up:

Roberts is charged in the death of Christopher Wright back in September 2023, after the two had a short conversation.

Disturbing surveillance video captured both the shooting and its aftermath.

Roberts pleaded not guilty to the crime via closed circuit television back in January 2024.

On Thursday, defense attorneys began making their case to a Hamilton County jury.

Roberts also took the stand in his own defense, testifying:

"I'm not denying that I shot this man. What I am contesting is that it was premeditated. I did not think when I got up to shoot that man."

Roberts says Wright used a racial slur when speaking to Roberts and another man, but witness reports say otherwise.

This is a developing story. Depend on us for updates as we get them.

Earlier: Murder on Market Street: State rests case against Darryl Roberts for Chris Wright's death