COLUMBUS - A Columbus man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the April 2000 murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend in a jealous rage. <br>
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Jerry A. Wynn Jr. pleaded guilty on his 22nd birthday to the murder of Tierra Sparks, avoiding a jury trial scheduled to begin July 8. <br>
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District Attorney Gray Conger had planned to ask for the death sentence. <br>
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According to police, Wynn, then 19, shot into a car driven by Tierra's mother, Regina. The shooting happened after the two women went with the girl's father to Wynn's house following an incident in which Wynn had threatened her with a pistol when he saw her with a rival and forced their car off the road. <br>
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Regina Sparks was shot in the head, shoulder and finger. Tierra ran from the car, with Wynn chasing. He fired, striking her first in the back, then he shot her in the breast and kicked her, then struck her at least 10 times in the head with the pistol.
