49-Year Sentence for Man Convicted of 2022 Pinehurst Gas Station Murder

A Montgomery County jury has sentenced Daniel David-Joseph Ryan III to 49 years in prison for the murder of Mitchell Weemes, a senseless act of violence that occurred at a Pinehurst gas station in July 2022. Judge Lisa Michalk of the 221st District Court formally issued the sentence on May 9, 2025, just two days after the jury found Ryan guilty of murder.

On the evening of July 15, 2022, Ryan approached Mitchell Weemes at a gas station, asking for marijuana. The encounter quickly escalated. As Ryan walked away, he suddenly turned back, drew a firearm, and fired three times, striking Weemes once in the chest. Weemes collapsed and died in front of his common-law wife. Ryan fled the scene but was apprehended shortly afterward in a nearby greenbelt area, still in possession of the murder weapon.

The trial, led by Chief Prosecutors Sara Corradi and Wesley LeRouax, began on May 5. Jurors heard testimony from law enforcement officers, forensic experts, and eyewitnesses who helped piece together the events of that night.

During the punishment phase, the prosecution revealed that Ryan was a convicted domestic abuser and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm at the time of the murder. Testimony from Montgomery County Jail staff further highlighted Ryan’s pattern of aggression, detailing multiple violent altercations he initiated while in custody. This history, combined with his prior conviction for Assault Family Violence, significantly influenced the jury’s decision regarding his punishment.

Ryan’s 49-year sentence means he will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence, which is 24.5 years.

Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon commented on the verdict: “This wasn’t just murder; it was cowardice disguised as confrontation. The jury spoke for Mitchell, his family, and this community. In Montgomery County, we don’t excuse violence—we answer it with consequences.”

The successful prosecution was a result of collaborative efforts between the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.