KANKAKEE — Devon M. Johnson testified Friday he shot Steve Sanders due to the fact he observed him access for a gun in his waistband during a confrontation May well 30, 2017.
Dealing with a initial-diploma murder demand, his demo began very last 7 days and proceeds today in Kankakee County court.
“Alright, let’s apparent it up, Mr. Johnson. Did you shoot him?” John Ridge, Johnson’s attorney, asked all through Johnson’s testimony on Friday.
“Yes,” Johnson answered.
Law enforcement say Johnson shot Sanders during a confrontation in an alley of the 500 block of East Bourbonnais Street in Kankakee.
Johnson testified that he, two of his brothers, Shizzel Glenn and another gentleman have been in the alley when Sanders and two of his cousins approached, with Sanders declaring he wanted to combat Johnson.
The two teams had exchanged terms earlier in the working day in the parking lot of a Bradley small business more than a gaming procedure Johnson accused Sanders of stealing from 1 of his brothers.
“They mentioned they have been heading to go get a pole,” Johnson explained.
When Ridge requested what he meant by that, Johnson replied that a pole is a gun. When Ridge even more questioned him about irrespective of whether he believed there would be a combat, Johnson replied, “I was a minor little bit involved.”
Johnson reported the team was strolling in the alley to get a single of his brothers safely into his house in the 500 block of East Bourbonnais Road.
As they had been walking toward the home, Johnson stated Glenn handed him a gun, which he tucked into the waistband of his pants.
“I’m not guaranteed why he handed me the gun,” Johnson mentioned.
A co-defendant in the capturing who agreed to testify immediately after accepting a plea offer from the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s business office, Glenn corroborated that he gave Johnson the gun in his testimony earlier in the 7 days.
Glenn acquired 15 decades in prison on a conspiracy to commit murder conviction.
Johnson even more testified that as Sanders’ group approached his group in the alley, Sanders yelled for him, applying his nickname of “Devo.”
“I believe he went for a gun in his trousers,” Johnson testified. “I imagined he was going to shoot. So I fired the gun. I was concerned for me and my brothers’ life.”
Kankakee County Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Reedy questioned Johnson why he did not get in touch with law enforcement right after the to start with confrontation in Bradley.
“I did not have a telephone, sir,” Johnson answered. “I was concentrating on driving.”
“Did anyone else in the auto have a cell phone?” Reedy countered.
“I’m not declaring no a single else didn’t have a cellular phone,” he replied, including, “The only issue we wanted to do is get my brother home.”