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HIGH POINT — Two High Point men could face the death penalty in the Halloween 2007 shooting death of a 21-year-old store clerk.

Walt Jones, a Guilford County assistant district attorney, is seeking the death penalty against Ronnie Lee Covington Jr., 20, of 2705 Kivett Drive and Keith Lauchon Jackson Jr., 19, of 304 Longdale Ave.

The men are accused of killing Lucky Mart clerk Josh Sweitzer in one of a string of robberies along the Interstate 85 corridor that included businesses in Lexington, Thomasville and High Point.

Sweitzer was shot in the head and died the next day. He had been working at his uncle's store for three months.

Jackson and Covington appeared in court Monday for a hearing to determine whether the death penalty could be pursued.

They admitted in court to being members of the Crips gang, Jones said. Jackson claimed he did not take part in Sweitzer's death, blaming it on a rival gang, the Bloods. But according to Jones, Covington identified Jackson as the shooter.

Jackson told the judge, "I'm only 19, why are you trying to kill me?," and tried to fire his attorney, Jones said.

However, the judge didn't allow that.

Sweitzer's mother, stepfather and grandfather attended the hearing, according to Jones. He said the family agreed with the decision to seek the death penalty.

The prosecutor's office doesn't pursue capital punishment in every case where it could be applied, he said.

When there's a "certain amount of senselessness and brutality," Jones said, "we feel like that's the time the death penalty is called for."

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com