Anthony Jackson admits he shot his friend five times in front of dozens of witnesses, but he is not a murderer, his defense said Monday, because he feared for his own life.
Jackson, 21, of Annapolis, faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of first-degree murder this week in Anne Arundel Circuit court for shooting Andre Johnson, 18, during a fight Sept. 2, 2007, outside Bay Ridge Gardens Apartments in Annapolis.
“This is not a case of murder; every killer is not a murderer,” said defense attorney William Davis. “He will take responsibility for killing his friend, but he is not guilty of murder.”
Davis told the jury during opening arguments Monday that Jackson walked away from the fight, but he heard someone in the crowd shout, “Don’t shoot, Dre!”
Jackson, believing his life was in danger, then turned around and fired his gun in self-defense, Davis said.
But prosecutor Anne Leitess told the jury Jackson armed himself and came looking for Johnson, because he was angry that Johnson beat him up during a “play fight” earlier that evening.
“With his wounded pride, instead of going home and chalking it up to experience and licking his wounds … he went to get his gun,” she said.
Callon Johnson, 24, of Annapolis, testified Monday that she was in the crowd, watching as Jackson confronted her younger brother and a struggle ensued.
She said she struck Jackson in the head with a bottle to defend her brother and break up the fight.
When shots were heard, Callon Johnson said she ducked behind a car and then ran to her brother’s side.
“He told me he was OK, but he was hit,” she tearfully testified.
Leitess said Johnson wasn’t armed and that Jackson pulled the gun because he was angry and embarrassed after the second beating, not because he was scared for his life.
Police later arrested Jackson at his house where he told them, “I’m the one you’re looking for,” and admitted to the shooting, according to charging documents.
The trial is expected to continue all week.
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