Man found guilty in 2014 Warner Robins killing

Nearly two years after 20-year-old Jarvis Rouse was shot to death at a party in Warner Robins, the man accused of pulling the trigger was convicted.

Cheikh Howard “Chucky” Gningue, 21, was found guilty of malice murder Friday after a day of jury deliberations, according to the Houston County district attorney’s office.

Superior Court Judge Katherine K. Lumsden sentenced Gningue to life in prison with the possibility of parole, in addition to five years for a gun charge.

Gningue, of Cleveland, Ohio, reportedly shot Rouse in the head with a 9 mm gun after a confrontation at a house party on Carter Circle in Warner Robins. Rouse was killed in a crowded basement on Nov. 29, 2014.

Gningue fled to New York City, but he turned himself in to authorities there Dec. 11. He was extradited to Houston County.

Assistant District Attorneys Clif Woody said in a statement that he was pleased with the outcome.

“Both the verdict and the sentence send the message that the citizens of Houston County value human life and will not tolerate the taking of a young man's life,” Woody said.

District Attorney George Hartwig said that he hopes the outcome will “bring a sense of peace and closure” to Rouse’s family.

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Man found guilty in 2014 Warner Robins killing."