One of the two men accused of murder in a 2016 drive-by shooting in Parramore took the stand in his own defense Friday.
The shooting at the Carver Park apartments killed a popular Parramore activist and a mother. Four others were wounded.
Initially, both defendants agreed to testify, but Lavon Shinn changed his mind before the afternoon session of the trial.
He’s accused of instigating the shooting to settle a score after a bar fight.
Meanwhile, his brother, Christopher Miller, also accused of murder in the case, took the stand to deny any involvement.
Before he spoke, jurors heard frantic 911 calls made moments after a hail of bullets flew into the complex, killing Gino Nicolas, 24, and Tanya Skeen, 46.
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“You didn't' see anything at all?” said the 911 dispatcher.
“No. I mean, we were inside the house and all I heard was a whole bunch of shots,” said the caller.
Therein lies the crux of the defense for Miller and Shinn, who are charged with second-degree murder.
“No witness was able to make any identification of the people in that car who did the shooting. Is that correct, Detective Teresa Sprague?” said defense attorney Peter Schmer.
Sprague, the lead detective on the case, testified to finding a 9mm glock firearm--the gun allegedly used in the shooting--under defendant Miller's bed, along with ammo in his backpack.
Miller took the stand and said he is a legal collector of many guns
“I'm very gun savvy,” he said.
He said he's not the only one with access to the weapons.
He denied being in the vehicle the state alleges was used in the shooting, and said he fully cooperated with detectives, even handing over his social media passwords.
“Because I didn't have nothing to hide,” Miller said.
Sprague testified that Miller said the gun was always in his possession.
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