Suspect's account of '07 killing disputed
As he was putting towels on the bleeding bullet wound in the security guard's neck, Clayton asked a nearby man who was covered in blood, "Why did you shoot him?"
"The (expletive) wouldn't quit hitting me," was the man's reply, according to Clayton.
Testimony continued Tuesday in the murder trial of Roger Allen Malcolm, 51, who is charged with first-degree felony murder in connection with the Dec. 26, 2007, death of Verne Jenkins, 31.
Jenkins was a security guard at the Sapp Brothers truck stop at 1953 W. California Ave.
Prosecutors say Malcolm became belligerent and loud with cashiers when he could not get waited on immediately to buy a pack of gum, so Jenkins tried to get him off the property — and Jenkins ended up getting shot in the process.
But defense attorneys say Jenkins was overly aggressive and attacked Malcolm, who was trying to leave and who drew a gun and shot only in self-defense.
Lester Huff and Bryant Brown were getting food at a Burger King inside the truck stop when they noticed a scuffle between two men. Huff said he thought it was a police officer who found someone with outstanding warrants and was "trying to take him down." Brown said he first thought it was just an argument, but after the shooting, he saw Malcolm sit down "quite calmly."
Chance Hoover spotted Malcolm with a gun, quickly helped a woman and two children get outside and called 911. At the dispatcher's request, he went back inside to describe what Malcolm was wearing and then dashed out into the parking lot to flag police in through the correct door.
Hoover said one employee, later identified as Amy Starks, began screaming angrily at Malcolm for shooting Jenkins, whom she described as a nice guy. Hoover said he told the truck stop workers and customers he didn't think it was a good idea for Starks to be yelling at Malcolm when a gun lay on a table within Malcolm's reach. The gun was later moved to a chair at the request of Clayton, who was on the floor administering first aid.
Another employee, Angela Simister, pulled the "very distraught" Starks away after they both had provided towels to Clayton to make pressure bandages to try to stop the bleeding.
At the trial, Simister described Malcolm's demeanor as "smug," although in an earlier preliminary hearing, she had described him as appearing "calm."
You can be the first to comment on this story.