WARREN  An appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a Warren man sentenced to life in prison for a 2024 shooting death at a local tavern. The Eleventh District Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment on Monday.

Zaa-Von Terell Hameed, 27, was convicted of aggravated murder in November 2024 after a three-day jury trial. He had been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 23 years. The fatal shooting of Nathaniel Bradley, 21, took place at the now-closed Park Place 24 Tavern in Warren.

In his appeal, Hameed argued his trial attorney was ineffective for not requesting a continuance, since he was retained only one week before the trial. The appeals court judges disagreed, finding no evidence that the late hire hurt the outcome. The court noted that Hameed's lawyer performed all the usual duties of a defense attorney.

Hameed also argued the trial court should have given the jury the option to consider a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, claiming he acted in a "sudden fit of rage" during the altercation.

The appeals court also rejected this claim. It stated that fear alone is not enough to constitute a "sudden passion or fit of rage" and that there was no evidence to suggest Hameed was sufficiently provoked to use deadly force against Bradley, who was half his size.

According to testimony and video surveillance shown at trial, a fight broke out after Hameed got into an argument with Bradley's brother. Hameed shot Bradley in the leg, then walked up to him as he lay on the floor and shot him a second time in the back. A forensic pathologist testified that the second shot was consistent with Bradley being face down on the ground.

The appeals court’s decision affirms Hameed's original sentence.