Johnston County jury convicts man of murdering gas station employee in 2022 stabbing

Updated 2 hours ago
GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Johnston County jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of a 19-year-old gas station employee.

Alexander Leon Herrera was found guilty of killing William Hayden Fitzpatrick at a Murphy USA gas station near Interstate 40 and N.C. 42.

Prosecutors said Herrera, who was 18 at the time, lured Fitzpatrick into a restroom the day after Thanksgiving in 2022 and stabbed him 19 times.

Authorities said Herrera then took Fitzpatrick's empty wallet and fled the scene.

Fitzpatrick died from his injuries.



Herrera was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also received an additional consecutive sentence related to a robbery conviction.

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