Durham man pleads guilty to second-degree murder

Damari Harper pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the Aug. 4 shooting death of Zacchaeus Kejuan Ormond, 26.

Harper, 22, claimed Ormond had robbed him a year earlier, but Durham Assistant District Attorney Jim Dornfried said Harper shot because the victim looked at him the wrong way.

Ormond's mother, Julia Hope, said in court Tuesday morning that she has forgiven Harper for her son's death and hopes he will be able to tell other young men that a life on the street is not worth it.

Hope said her son wasn't perfect but didn't deserve to be shot.

Harper did not speak at Tuesday's hearing but asked his attorney to apologize on his behalf.