Defense: Police too focused on feud

A defendant who is on trial for a fatal shooting police believe was over inflammatory social media posts told investigators he did not kill the victim, even though he said he had every reason to do so.

Jabari Mitchell, 26, had arranged in November 2016 to meet up and fight his ex-girlfriend’s brother, Trelin Reed. When there were too many people hanging around at the North Austin Luby’s where they had agreed to meet, they pivoted to a Wendy’s. And then to a Shell gas station.

At yet another location — a Mobil gas station at the intersection of Interstate 35 and East St. Johns Avenue — Reed was ambushed with gunfire while sitting in a Ford Explorer. The killer was positioned behind a privacy fence and fired 25 times through a missing plank, police say. Reed was hit 13 times and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In closing arguments Tuesday, Mitchell’s lawyer said police