LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A man is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a 2022 Louisville murder.
Richard Bell Jr. was shot and killed on March 28, 2022 during an apparent drug deal in the Jacobs neighborhood.
Louisville's Chief Prosecutor Gerina D. Whethers announced Thursday Deion Griffey will be sentenced for the felony charges of murder (complicity) and robbery in the first degree (complicity).
The Commonwealth is recommending a sentence of 30 years for murder and 20 years for the robbery charge, to run concurrently for a total sentence of 30 years in prison.
A sentence hearing for Griffey is scheduled for Oct. 29 at 10:45 a.m. at the Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Griffey's co-defendant in this case, Rickenya Wilson, pleaded guilty to criminal facilitation to murder and robbery on July 23, 2024. She was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison.
According to arrest records, police say Wilson conspired with Griffey to rob Bell. Records say Bell’s girlfriend told Wilson that Bell sold marijuana. Wilson then allegedly got Bell’s phone number and passed it on to Griffey.
Police said both had planned to set up Bell to rob him.
In their investigation, they said Griffey had contacted Bell and the two agreed to meet. Wilson had stayed in the car while Griffey, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, met with Bell.
Sometime during that meeting in the 3600 block of Parthenia Avenue, police said Griffey shot Bell in the head, causing his death. Both Griffey and Wilson fled the scene.
Bell died in the hospital two days later.