Defense rests in murder trial

The defendant said he killed a man in self-defense.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — After a week of testimony, the jury will begin deliberations today in the murder trial of Lamar McKinney, 21, of Broadway, who is accused of shooting two men in the Westlake Terrace housing project April 23, 2008.

McKinney is accused of killing Marcus Easterly, 30, of Lanterman Road, with two gunshots to the back, as well as shots that hit him in the forearm and foot. He is accused of injuring Derrell Easterly, 22, of Hammaker Street, with a gunshot to the leg.

If convicted, McKinney could be sentenced to life in prison by Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who is presiding over the trial.

On Monday, McKinney testified that he fired at the two men because they both had guns, and at least one of them was shooting at him.

“I shot back,” McKinney said.

“Did you think it was either shoot or be killed?” asked his lawyer Jeff Limbian.

“Yes,” McKinney said. He also testified that he was not aware that any of the shots he fired that day hit Marcus Easterly because he was running away from the other man as he fired.

When questioned by Kasey Shidel, an assistant county prosecutor, how Marcus Easterly ended up shot in the back, McKinney said he didn’t know.

“We was face to face, so how he got shot in the back, I don’t know,” he testified.

In closing arguments later, Shidel said McKinney’s claims that there was another person shooting that day whose shots apparently hit and killed Marcus Easterly are not supported by any testimony.

“How do you shoot somebody in the back in self-defense?” Shidel said.

Of the 18 prosecution witnesses who testified during the trial, not one said there was any gun involved besides McKinney’s, Shidel said.

Shidel said a dispute arose among younger boys that day, but ended with McKinney and the two Easterlys.

Marcus Easterly was prepared to fight someone over the dispute, but he was planning to fight with his hands, Shidel said.

Of McKinney, Shidel said, “He pulled out that gun and shot him [Marcus Easterly]. That was not a fair fight.”