Jury Sees Convenience Store Video Of Man Being Shot And Killed At Close Range

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

A Criminal Court jury on Tuesday saw a video of a man being shot to death at close range at a convenience store at Wilcox Boulevard and Tunnel Boulevard.

Jamaal Byrd is on trial for first-degree murder in the courtroom of Judge Rebecca Stern.

The video from Kanku's shows both Byrd and victim Terrance Etchison go inside the store, then leave about the same time.

The elaborate camera system, with 16 different views, then captured a close confrontation between the two outside. Byrd is shown raising a gun and firing, and the victim then falls to the ground.

Carman Fazio, the clerk on duty, said he heard the two arguing inside the store, but he said it was not heated and he did not expect a shooting would result. He did say he heard Etchison refer to Byrd as "Frankenstein."

The clerk said he heard gunshots and looked out to see the crowd scattering. Then he said, "I watched him die. I'll never forget it. He kept trying to get up, but he couldn't. He just stopped. He didn't last long after he was shot. He was dead."

He said he did not see the victim with any kind of weapon in the incident in February 2010.

Police said they received information from various people saying the shooter was possibly  Byrd. Upon viewing a recent mugshot of Byrd, investigators determined that he is the same person seen on the store video. Witnesses who were present at the convenience store identified Byrd from photo lineups.

It is the same store where an innocent bystander who was pumping gas was killed in a shootout on Jan. 10.

Police released a photo of the suspect in the latest case standing inside the store as well as a picture of his vehicle parked outside. Byrd was later taken into custody at the Hamilton County Jail after negotiating his surrender with fugitive investigators.

Byrd had been in court the day before on charges of domestic assault and unlawfully carrying a dangerous weapon.

Brian Finlay is prosecuting the case and Fred and Ryan Hanzelik are the defense attorneys.

Byrd has been free after posting a $250,000 bond.

A second murder  


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