Man gets life in prison for killing former girlfriend

A 24-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison today after a jury convicted him of shooting his former girlfriend to death at a Charleston public housing complex last year.

Jake Antonio Wilson was found guilty after a week-long trial of murdering 24-year-old LaToya Pendergrass, who was shot inside 76-G Harris St., in July 2007.

At the time of the shooting, Pendergrass and Wilson were known to argue frequently, neighbors and family members said. Police had been called to the residence numerous times, they also reported.

Policed believed Wilson went to Pendergrass' upstairs bedroom and shot her. A .32-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun was found lying on the bedroom floor.

Pendergrass' two young children were inside the apartment at the time. When police arrived on the scene, they saw Wilson run from the home carrying the children, earlier reports said.

Wilson was sentenced by Circuit Judge Deadra Jefferson. The jury deliberated about two hours at the Charleston County Judicial Center.

Wilson's South Carolina criminal record showed he had domestic violence charges in Charleston from 2002 and 2005. Both cases ended without a conviction.