State of Tennessee v. Ronald Eugene Brewer, Jr.

Following a jury trial, the Defendant, Ronald Eugene Brewer, Jr., was convicted of first degree premeditated murder, first degree murder in the attempt to perpetrate a first degree murder, and criminal attempt to commit first degree murder. Following a sentencing hearing, the jury sentenced the Defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for each count of first degree murder. The trial court merged the two counts of first degree murder and imposed a concurrent twenty-five-year sentence for the third count. In this direct appeal, the Defendant raises the following issues for our review: (1) The State presented insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction for first degree murder; (2) The indictment alleging the intent to directly kill the victim was improperly before the jury; (3) The trial court erred when it refused a change of venue; (4) The trial court erred when it allowed the 911 tape to be admitted into evidence; (5) The trial court erred when it allowed the Defendant’s signed statement, and a comment he made to a police officer while being transported, to be admitted into evidence; (6) The trial court erred when it allowed material related to gangs and gang activity to be admitted into evidence; (7) The trial court erred when it allowed purported expert testimony about gangs; (8) The trial court erred when it allowed testimony about a shell casing found in the Defendant’s vehicle; (9) The trial court erred when it allowed the State to use and present two aggravating circumstances to the jury; and (10) The evidence was insufficient to support a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. After our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.