North Syracuse man convicted of murdering Syracuse University student Xiaopeng ‘Pippen’ Yuan
Onondaga County Sheriff's Office
Cameron Isaac, 24, and Ninimbe Mitchell, 20, were charged with murder in connection to the death of Xiaopeng "Pippen" Yuan. Isaac on Tuesday was found guilty. The jury has not delivered a verdict for Mitchell.
UPDATED: Aug. 15, 2017 at 11:56 p.m. EST
A jury on Tuesday found a North Syracuse man guilty of murdering a Syracuse University student last fall.
Cameron Isaac, 24, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection to the death of SU student Xiaopeng “Pippen” Yuan. Jurors have not yet reached a verdict for Ninimbe Mitchell, 20, who is charged with second-degree murder tied to the same incident.
Jurors came to their verdict for Isaac after about five hours of deliberations on Tuesday.
The jury will resume its deliberations pertaining to Mitchell’s charge on Wednesday morning.
Isaac bowed his head as the jury announced his guilty verdict and nodded to family members as he exited the courtroom minutes later. Judge John Brunetti did not immediately set a sentencing date for Isaac.
Prosecutors alleged that Isaac robbed Yuan of 2 pounds of marijuana and subsequently killed him at the Springfield Garden Apartments complex in DeWitt on Sept. 30 of last year. Mitchell was charged with second-degree murder because he allegedly acted as an accomplice by being aware of the plans and driving Isaac to and from the crime scene.
On the morning of Sept. 30, Isaac and Yuan arranged to meet at the apartment complex for a marijuana deal. In the weeks leading up to the deal, Isaac was simultaneously plotting to rob Yuan, prosecutors said.
But Isaac didn’t have a license, which is why prosecutors say he enlisted Mitchell’s help. Mitchell’s attorney, Paul Carey, argued during the trial that Mitchell simply acted as an “Uber driver” for Isaac and had no knowledge of his alleged plans to rob Yuan.
Yuan was found dead at the apartment complex about 1 p.m. on Sept. 30. He died from a gunshot that entered his side and traveled through his chest.
Isaac’s attorney, William Sullivan, argued during the trial that Yuan had a thriving business as a marijuana dealer, and as a result, developed business rivals and enemies who may have had motive to kill him.
Isaac now faces up to life in prison without parole.
Jurors will resume deliberations pertaining to Mitchell’s charge on Wednesday morning.
Published on August 15, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Contact Michael: mdburk01@syr.edu
