february 20, 2014

A Harris County jury on Thursday sentenced a former fast food employee to death in the 2009 robbery and fatal shooting of the restaurant manager.

George Curry, 47, was found guilty earlier this week of shooting Edward Virappen, 19, the manager of a Popeyes Chicken restaurant in the 15100 block of FM 529.

Jurors deliberated about 10 hours before deciding punishment.

Curry is the first person to be sent to death row this year by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors sought the death sentence only once last year.