Cantonment Man Gets Life In Prison For 2016 Murder

March 15, 2018

A Cantonment man will spend the rest of his life in state prison for a 2016 murder.

An Escambia County jury previosly found 21-year-old Marquis Derrell Bryant guilty of second degree murder. The life sentence was handed down Wednesday by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan.

Bryant shot 29-year old Alphonso Leon Griffin, who was found in the yard of a residence in the 200 block of Sheppard Street in Cantonment just after 9 p.m. on July 23, 2016. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later passed away.

Bryant was previously sentenced to five years in state prison for a bribery charge. He offered to pay a law enforcement officer to let him go in connection with the arrest in the murder case.

Bryant was captured by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office just five days before the shooting, but not placed under arrest.

On Sunday, July 17, 2016, Bryant allegedly stole a classic Ford Mustang. On Monday, July 18, 2016, deputies spotted Bryant in the stolen 1965 Mustang at 3:47 p.m. near Hicks Street and Muscogee Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. When a deputy attempted a traffic stop, Bryant refused.

The deputy followed the vehicle, not exceeding the speed limit. Bryant opened the driver’s side door while the vehicle was still in motion. He then jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot.

The Sheriff’s Office said Bryant was located by a K-9 a short time later.

Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that deputies suspected that Bryant ingested some type of narcotics before being captured. He was transported to a local hospital for medical care. Hobbs declined to say which day Bryant was released from the hospital, citing medical privacy laws.

Hobbs said deputies submitted a grand theft auto warrant for judicial review. At the time of the murder, the warrant had not yet been signed by a judge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Cantonment Man Gets Life In Prison For 2016 Murder”

  1. No Excuses on March 15th, 2018 2:36 pm

    @ Grand Locust: How many of those “non-violent” criminals will become “violent criminals” if left unchecked? Prison time helps those who wish to change to make that change. Those who don’t wish to change won’t and will end up locked up the majority of their lives anyway.

    Not to mention that just because they are in for a “non-violent” offense, it doesn’t mean they haven’t committed violent acts and not been caught.

    I agree that there are many who don’t need to be in prison for what they’ve done, but until they make a choice to change and do better, then that’s where they’re going. I, for one, will be happy to help foot the bill to keep our communities safer.

  2. Bill on March 15th, 2018 10:12 am

    Hope you just love your new home you are right where you should be enjoy your new home and life you finally earned something !!!!!!!!!

  3. Grand Locust on March 15th, 2018 9:08 am

    A violent criminal actually going away for life. Non violent criminals far too often fill our prisons which are putting a tremendous burden on taxpayers, but violent criminals…..fill em up judge.

  4. justice on March 15th, 2018 4:34 am

    Judge put out the trash

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News