Convicted felon found guilty of first-degree murder in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - A jury found Donte Jamar Rollinson guilty of first-degree murder in New Hanover County Superior Court Friday morning.

Rollinson is believed to have shot and killed Jason Stokes at home in the 600 block of Fullwood Street on Feb. 4, 2020.

Throughout the course of the trial, the jury heard from several witnesses, including Stokes’ sister, his then-girlfriend, several responding officers, CSI agents, forensic experts from the state lab and an informant from the New Hanover County Jail.

The state’s prosecutors showed the jury body camera videos of the first two officers who arrived at the scene after a shot spotter alert was triggered around 11:30 p.m.

The video showed Rollinson on the ground next to Stokes as officers walked into a fenced-in area of the yard. The officers started yelling commands to Rollinson, who eventually complied and was placed into handcuffs.

Rollinson appeared intoxicated or high at the time of the shooting. When officers asked his name, Rollinson had difficulty answering them, according to the body camera footage.

He was taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked in jail but didn’t complain of any pain to the paramedics other than the handcuffs around his wrists. There were no injuries to Rollinson reported during the trial.

According to the toxicology report, Rollinson had phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP, in his system at the time of the shooting. He also had a blood alcohol concentration of .06, which is under the state’s legal limit.

Medical experts testified during the trial and confirmed that Stokes died from a gunshot wound to the left cheek. Images from the autopsy confirmed a bullet was lodged in his neck at the base of his brain.

An abrasion collar was found on his cheek, which experts explained to the jury indicated the firearm was placed at a close range.

Throughout most of the trial, Rollinson sat with a blank face as he listened to each witness testify. When the jailhouse informant took the stand, however, Rollinson’s demeanor changed. He began to smirk and shake his head at what was being said.

Rollinson was the last witness to take the stand, where he claimed his innocence. He said he and Stokes were friends and they were hanging out and smoking Loveboat together that night.

Rollinson told the jury he was hit on the head by an unknown heavy object and blacked out the night of the shooting. He claimed he doesn’t know what happened and didn’t come to until he was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

After the judge read the jury’s verdict, several members of Stokes’ family addressed the court, explaining the impact the shooting has had on them over the past several years.

Each person was emotional as they spoke through tears and told Rollinson they are praying for him. They told his mother, who was sitting in the courtroom, that they hope she never has to experience similar grief.

Rollinson was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Still claiming his innocence, he plans to appeal the conviction.

Copyright 2023 WECT. All rights reserved.