The King?s Contrivance Village Center in Columbia was overrun by gang violence, leaving Michael Dean Jackson no choice but to defend himself with a gun, Jackson?s defense attorney argued Monday.
“This was gang violence, mob violence,” Jackson?s attorney, Patrick O?Guinn, told a jury Monday in Howard County Circuit Court, where Jackson, 28, of Columbia, is charged with first-degree murder. “There were 30 to 40 young people out of control. They had taken over the shopping center.”
Jackson is accusedof killing James Owen-Smith, 20, of Savage, but O?Guinn said his client was defending himself and his family.
The incident began the night of June 23 after a fight between youths at the McDonald?s fast-food restaurant in the village center.
During the fight, Jackson, who was a McDonald?s customer, attempted to break up 30 to 40 youths as several of the teenagers assaulted another teen, O?Guinn said.
The teenagers became angry at Jackson?s interference and threatened him, eventually calling Owen-Smith, who went by the street name “Scheme,” as an enforcer, O?Guinn said.
After several friends of Owen-Smith approached Jackson?s house, Jackson took a gun and exited his house, where he met up with Owen-Smith.
After a confrontation, Jackson shot the 20-year-old between six and 10 times, prosecutors said.
Deputy Howard County State?s Attorney F. Todd Taylor argued that Jackson?s actions amount to cold-blooded murder.
“He took that life without justification or excuse,” Taylor said.
In the hours after Owen-Smith?s shooting, about 25 of the victim?s friends were upset when demanding to see him at Howard County General Hospital, causing two people to be arrested for disorderly conduct.
Prosecutors are expected to spend about a week trying the case.
