NEW HANOVER COUNTY -- Jason Gary is charged with first-degree murder. The state had offered what seemed to be a pretty good plea bargain but Gary surprised everyone in New Hanover County court Tuesday by rejecting that deal. Prosecutors offered Gary seven years behind bars for pleading guilty to lesser charges in the death of Shamar Brown. Brown was found shot to death on Independence Boulevard in 2005. Instead, Gary will go to trial for first-degree murder in July. If a jury finds him guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison.