Two men sentenced for second-degree murder in Phoenix

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(The Center Square) – Agel Chan Ring, 19, and Nathan Da Ron James, 20, received prison sentences for the murder of a 17-year-old male in Phoenix.

Ring was sentenced to 22 years and James to 13 years. 

Both pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in the shooting death of the 17-year-old, who met with them to sell the defendants marijuana, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. At the time of the shooting, Ring was a prohibited possessor.

The office, which prosecuted the case, announced the sentences Thursday morning in a news release emailed to The Center Square.

Ring and James persuaded the victim to meet them for a marijuana purchase in July 2024 near 7th Avenue and Buckeye Road, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. When the victim retrieved the marijuana from his car, Ring shot him twice in the chest, the office said.

Ring and James went on to steal the marijuana, the victim’s phone and a gun, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said. 

Police arrested Ring near the crime scene. James fled to Kansas City, Mo. Months later, he was arrested there and extradited back to Arizona.

“We see cases like this far too often. Teenagers planning armed robberies over marijuana or vape products and senselessly murdering someone in the process,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Thanks to the dedicated work of the Phoenix Police Department and Drug Trafficking Prosecutor Sarah Lundstedt, these two individuals have been held accountable.”

Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said Ring and James were connected to the shooting through witness statements, cellphone records, social media videos and DNA evidence.

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