NEVADA — A Story County jury returned a guilty verdict on Monday morning in the first-degree murder trial of an Ankeny man accused of fatally shooting a teenager in Fort Dodge on July 4.

Jamarrion “JJ” Davis, 18, was arrested two days after he allegedly gunned down 15-year-old Jameel Redding-Pettigrew as fireworks exploded overhead on Fort Dodge’s south side. Charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder, Davis requested a change of venue for his trial, which was then moved to Story County.

Davis’ trial began last week with testimony from several witnesses who testified to seeing Davis carrying a Mini Draco firearm throughout the day on July 4, and that he had been at a holiday barbecue party at 216 S. 14th St.

Witnesses testified that in the evening, Redding-Pettigrew was walking past the house when his cousin, a guest at the party, beckoned him over. The teen was offered some food, but declined because he was walking home and was just a few blocks away.

After Redding-Pettigrew left, witnesses testified, Davis heard Kamaree Mosley tell one of the party’s hosts that Redding-Pettigrew was “DJ’s little brother.” Davis then took off down an alley in the same direction that the teen was headed.

The motive for the shooting, First Assistant Webster County Attorney Brad McIntyre told the jury during opening arguments, was that Redding-Pettigrew’s older brother, 17-year-old Davonquae Pettigrew, is accused of shooting and killing Patrick Walker, a close friend of Davis. Walker was gunned down in downtown Fort Dodge in the 100 block of North 10th Street on May 2. Pettigrew has been charged with first-degree murder for that shooting.

The jury also saw home security video that shows Redding-Pettigrew being shot several times in the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and South 15th Street at about 9:44 p.m. on July 4.

A witness for the defense, Margie Berg, testified on Friday that she had seen the shooter and had gotten “a good look at him.” When being cross-examined by Assistant Webster County Attorney Bailey Taylor, Berg gestured at Davis in the courtroom and said, “It was not him, it was a light-skinned kid with an afro.”

Berg also testified that she had told officers that she could describe the shooter, but no one ever followed up with her.

During her testimony, Berg had difficulties seeing a monitor screen and reading papers because she hadn’t brought her eyeglasses with her.

“That night, did you have your glasses on?” Taylor asked.

“No, I don’t need my glasses all the time,” Berg answered.

The jury deliberated for about an hour on Friday before breaking for the weekend. After returning Monday morning, the jury reached a verdict around noon.

A sentencing hearing will be set.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for adults in Iowa. Davis had turned 18 about a month prior to the shooting.