Trotwood man sentenced to prison for deadly shooting at Kettering BP station

KETTERING — A Trotwood man convicted of killing a man at the Kettering BP at the corner of Smithville and Wilmington Pike was sentenced to prison today.

Ja’Leel R. Brooks, 22, pled guilty as charged to murder and two counts of felonious assault, according to a release from Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr.

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Kettering police officers were inside of the BP station when the deadly shooting happened right outside the store, investigators said.

The investigation determined that Brooks was a backseat passenger in a vehicle in the gas station lot. After an argument, Brooks left the vehicle and fired numerous rounds, striking the vehicle’s driver, Anthony Gray Jr., 21, of Dayton.

Gray was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the release.

A second shooting victim, a backseat passenger in the vehicle, was shot in the leg but survived the shooting.

Brooks was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Brooks was sentenced to serve life in prison and will not be eligible for consideration of parole until he has served at least 18 years. He was also ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution, according to the release.

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