November 27, 2008 4:57

Man convicted of murdering T.I.'s assistant

35-year-old Hosea Thomas faces life in prison

A 35 year-old Cincinnati man has been convicted of the murder of Philant Johnson, who was assistant to the rapper T.I.

Hosea Thomas was found guilty today (November 26) of murdering the 26 year-old , who was travelling in a van with T.I. when Thomas opened fire.

The jury in the case found Thomas guilty on all 11 counts in the case, including murder, five counts of felonious assault and illegally having a gun after a felony conviction.

He faces 20 years to life imprisonment for his crime, which he committed in 2006 after being denied entry to the VIP room at a club in Cincinnati that was hosting an after-party for the rapper.

On the night in question, Thomas reportedly became irate that he was not allowed into the roped-off area where T.I. was sitting, and a scuffle broke out. Thomas was hit over the head with a bottle in the fight.

The gunman and his brother later followed T.I.'s van as it left the club, shooting dead Johnson, and injuring three others.

T.I. testified in the case last week, and said that the shots were meant for him, not his friends or colleagues.

--By our New York staff.
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