A Columbia man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of killing a 15-year-old.

Lavon Bernard Julius, 43, was sentenced after a trial that began Dec. 11, with a conviction for murder being handed down by week’s end. The jury deliberated for 30 minutes before delivering their verdict, according to a release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which prosecuted the case.

“On January 29, 2022, at 10:40 p.m., Julius shot Zeloni [Ellison] four times killing him outside of his grandmother’s apartment off of Roberts Street in the Town of Lexington,” the release states. “Zeloni’s mother was inside of the apartment on the couch when she heard gunshots. When she ultimately looked outside, she saw Julius and asked him about the gunshots. Julius told her that ‘buddy was over there laying on the ground’ as he walked around the corner of the apartment unit with her. When law enforcement arrived on scene, they saw Julius near Zeloni’s body, but then Julius walked away from the officers without admitting to being involved in the shooting.”

Judge Waltan McLeod sentenced Julius to life in prison without the eligibility for parole. Per the release, he J has prior convictions for strong arm robbery, assault and battery (high and aggravated), and assault with intent to kill. 

“After the shooting, witnesses testified that Julius appeared calm and nonchalant as if nothing happened,” the release states. “While law enforcement was on scene, Julius walked behind the apartment building and hid the murder weapon. The weapon was located the next day and forensic testing confirmed that it was the weapon used to kill Zeloni. Julius ultimately walked back outside of his apartment after being urged to by his wife. 

“The jury had the opportunity to watch the officer’s body camera footage of the initial statement Julius gave to law enforcement. Julius initially indicated that he was inside his house when the shooting occurred, then he indicated that he was outside when the shooting occurred. The officer testified that during his conversation with Julius it appeared that at one point Julius was reliving the shooting when he described the gunshots and then threw his hands up. Julius also denied having a weapon, however, he was ultimately identified as the shooter.”

The release goes on to say that testimony during the trial “revealed that the kid irritated Julius because this night was not the first time Zeloni may have asked Julius for a cigarette.”

“Early that day, Julius was at a family member’s house where he was drinking and then drove home with his daughter,” the release states. “When Julius returned home, Zeloni was standing outside talking on the phone. Julius then walked his daughter to their apartment, let her in, and then walked up to Zeloni. During the trial, a friend that was on the phone with Zeloni testified that he heard Zeloni ask a man for a cigarette followed by the man saying ‘is you good’ and then the shooting took place. He then heard Zeloni trying to breathe and then heard Zeloni’s mom saying Zeloni’s name.”

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Solicitors Roddy McNair and Sutania Fuller following an investigation by the Lexington Police Department.