4 days ago
Man found guilty of second-degree murder of teenager outside East Nashville church in 2022
Joe De Leon, 24, was convicted of second-degree premeditated murder for an East Nashville shooting in 2022, according to the Davidson County District Attorney's Office.
De Leon was also convicted of first-degree felony murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, the DA's office said. His trial began May 19 and lasted two days, according to online court records.
Police said De Leon got into an altercation with 19-year-old Antonio Rudolfo in the parking lot of a church in the 200 block of Gatewood Avenue on Nov. 25, 2022. After they spoke for several minutes, De Leon shot and killed Rudolfo, police said.
Police on Dec. 9 identified De Leon and put out a plea to the public for assistance finding him. When he was apprehended in May 2023, he was found in a stolen Lexus that had drugs and a loaded pistol inside, police said. He was charged with seven more offenses that he has not been tried for yet, according to online court records.
For the group of offenses related to the killing of Rudolfo, De Leon was charged with first-degree premeditated murder but was convicted at the trial this month on the lesser charge of second-degree premeditated murder. He was also charged with carjacking in the Rudolfo-related offenses, but that charge was dropped, according to the DA's office.
More: Jury convicts 72-year-old Ronnie Phillips of killing girlfriend's aunt in Donelson in 2022
Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Joe De Leon guilty of killing teen near East Nashville church in 2022
