A jury on Tuesday found a Tampa man guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of 14-year-old Nilexia Alexander. Now, he could face the death penalty. Closing arguments wrapped Monday in the capital murder trial of Ronny Walker, who is accused of shooting Alexander and leaving her body in an empty lot on West Floribraska Avenue. Before arguments started, Judge Robin Fuson made a big reversal, allowing prosecutors to use what’s called "the principal theory." That means even if Walker didn't commit the crime himself, if he helped someone else commit or try to commit the crime, he can be treated as if he committed it himself. This decision worked to the advantage of state prosecutors. The state attorney argued that Alexander was seen in surveillance video getting in a car with Walker and another person, Robert Creed, who testified against Walker. The state maintains this was a premeditated killing, but the defense said there’s no evidence showing Walker was the person who pulled the trigger. Both sides agree that Nilexia’s phone may have been in the car after the murder, but the defense argues that wherever the phone went, Robert Creed was also present. “The shots alone is evidence of premeditation, the drive to that location is evidence of premeditated murder, the defendant turning off his lights premeditated first degree murder, the defendant citing someone else being in his vehicle, knowing full well it wasn’t him premeditated first degree murder,” prosecutor Chinwe Fossett said. “First of all, there are three people in this mixture that Ms. Fossett keeps bringing up over and over. Three people. She conveniently left out the third person. Now, is the third person Robert Creed? We don’t know. The DNA expert says he could not tell you that it is or is not him. She can’t include him or exclude him,” defense attorney Maria Dunker said. Robert Creed and another witness testified last Thursday, saying Walker was upset that Nilexia allegedly gave him a sexually transmitted disease. The defense said there’s no evidence that Walker had an STD. Right now, Creed is only being charged with accessory after the fact. He pleaded guilty and will be sentenced this week.