TribLive reported Judge Edward J. Borkowski sentenced Jerome Thompson to 40 years to life for killing Conrad Rozier.

Thursday's 40-years-to-life term is the sentence on the jury's conviction. It is not the mandatory life-without-parole punishment the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found unconstitutional in March and then stayed for the legislature. Neither bill reached a full vote. Last month the court agreed to take up retroactivity, which TribLive reported could reach about 1,100 people serving that term for second-degree murder. Weinberg told the judge any sentence imposed Thursday would be unlawful. Johnson's charges are accusations. Nov. 20 is a court date.

TribLive reported Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in a story by Paula Reed Ward, that Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski sentenced Jerome Thompson, 46, to a prison term of 40 years to life. The story said the term was on counts of second-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy and firearms charges, for killing Conrad Rozier. It said a jury convicted Thompson of killing Rozier, 44, on Feb. 18, 2025. The lead said a North Versailles man will spend at least 40 years in state prison. At least 40 years and 40 years to life are the same term only if the top number is life. The photo caption printed the judge as Edward J Borkowski, with no period after the J. The body printed Edward J. Borkowski. TribLive's Oct. 28 story, by Justin Vellucci, said Thompson was 45, that a jury in May found him guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and a gun count, and that sentencing was set for Thursday before the same judge. Age 46 and age 45 are not the same age. Conspiracy, in Thursday's count list, and two named conspiracy counts, in Wednesday's list, are not the same charges. Firearms charges and a gun count are not the same words. Thursday was Oct. 29.

Ward reported police were called to the 2300 block of East Hills drive around 8:30 a.m. for a reported shooting, that officers found Rozier holding his cellphone after he had been shot in the chest, and that he died a short time later. The paper printed drive with a lowercase d. Vellucci reported Pittsburgh police said four officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of East Hills Drive around 8:30 a.m., that someone called 911 to report a man had been shot and robbed, and that officers found Rozier holding his cell phone. Cellphone and cell phone are two spellings. A reported shooting and a report that he had been shot and robbed are not the same call. Vellucci reported multiple shell casings from at least two guns were nearby, that first responders took Rozier to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, that he could not describe his attacker, and that he died there less than an hour after being shot. Ward did not name the hospital and did not print the casings. A short time later and less than an hour are not the same measure. Vellucci reported Rozier was one of three men killed last year on that block. Ward's sentencing story did not. The other two are not named here.

Ward reported Thompson was implicated by a witness, by surveillance footage and by cellphone records. Ward reported a co-conspirator who had been previously unidentified was charged by police on Oct. 9, and the next sentence named Nije Johnson, 32. Ward reported police said she was linked by DNA and by phone calls Thompson made to her from the Allegheny County Jail while he waited for trial. Ward reported the complaint in her case said she spoke with him from the jail using her sister's identity, through text messages, photo messages and video visits, and that they appeared to be in a romantic relationship. The sister is not named here. Ward reported cellphone records placed Johnson in the area of the homicide when the shooting happened, that surveillance placed Thompson's Ford Explorer outside Rozier's apartment five hours before, that it left seconds before the 911 call, and that license plate-reading cameras tracked it to Erie. Ward reported police said her cellphone records tracked that movement. Vellucci reported Johnson, 32, of Pittsburgh, was charged with homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, that she was arrested Oct. 9, and that a judge denied bail the next day. Vellucci reported the charges were held for court last week and that she is set for Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 20. Vellucci reported spokeswoman Cara Cruz said, "It just goes to something we say all the time: it can take time to gather evidence and build a case." Vellucci reported an FBI special agent helped verify the calls, that her phone placed her "in the area of the homicide" when shots were fired, that two hours later she appeared to be going north on I-79 in Butler County, and that three hours after the shooting she appeared to be near Erie. Vellucci reported police said her DNA "was located at the scene of the homicide," that two people left in the Explorer seconds before the 911 call, that the vehicle had parked near the apartment around 3 a.m., more than five hours earlier, and that the plates were registered to Thompson. Five hours before, in Ward's account, and around 3 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. call, are one clock only if both are right. Vellucci reported a witness found through Thompson's phone identified him in a photo lineup and in footage from within an hour of the shooting. Vellucci reported the public defender's office, which represents Johnson, and Jeffrey Weinberg, who represented Thompson, did not return calls on Wednesday. Ward reported Weinberg spoke at Thursday's sentencing. Johnson is charged. She has not been tried.

Ward reported that at the start of Thursday's hearing Borkowski offered Thompson a chance to postpone, because of a change in how Pennsylvania punishes second-degree murder. In March, the paper reported, the state Supreme Court found that mandatory life without parole for that count is unconstitutional because it does not take into account the individual characteristics of the person being sentenced. The court stayed that result so the legislature could write a new sentencing scheme. The paper reported the Senate and the House each drafted a bill, and that neither bill reached a full vote. It reported that last month the Supreme Court said it would take up retroactivity, which could lead to resentencing of about 1,100 people serving life without parole in Pennsylvania for second-degree, or felony, murder. Weinberg told the judge he did not see a benefit in waiting. "I'm flying blind here, judge," he said. "I believe any sentence the court metes out today will be unlawful." The paper reported he said his client has a right to know the potential penalty at the time of the crime, and quoted him: "The sanction section of this statute has been declared unconstitutional," and, "I think it's more to his advantage to (be sentenced) and get on to Superior Court." The parentheses are in the paper. Rozier's sister, Shamone Rozier, was the only person who gave victim-impact testimony. The paper reported she and her mother reached her brother's house that morning soon after he had been taken to the hospital. "My mom started screaming," she said. "I will never forget the pain I saw in my mother that day." To Thompson she said, "You didn't have to do him like that. Hopefully you will repent for the murder of my brother." The paper reported Thompson called no witnesses and spoke briefly: "I just want to say to the family sorry for their loss." Thursday's term of 40 years to life is the sentence on the jury's conviction. It is not a statute the legislature passed, and it is not the mandatory life-without-parole term the Supreme Court stayed. Johnson has not been tried. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.