Woman Pleads Guilty in Piazza Murders

Woman admits she let one of the alleged shooters into the apartment building

A woman has admitted she let one of the alleged shooters into the upscale Northern Liberties apartment building at Piazza at Schmidt’s June 2009 where two people were killed.

Twenty-six-year-old Katoya Jones pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree murder in the fatal shooting last year that authorities say started out as a plan to rob a club promoter of drugs and money.

Jones admitted she let one alleged shooter into the building as a favor to a man who police say masterminded the attack on 34-year-old Rian Thal and 40-year-old Timothy Gilmore.

Thal and Gilmore were shot to death June 27, 2009 in the hallway of Thal’s apartment building, the Navona. The shootings were caught on surveillance video. Police said they found more than eight pounds of cocaine and $100,000 at the scene of the murders.

Thal was a party and event planner. She was well known in the city's nightlife and hip hop scene. Investigators say she was also a top-dollar drug dealer and the ambush was set up to steal drugs from her.

Seven other people are charged in the shootings. Their trial is scheduled for next year.


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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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