Man claims he fatally shot teen out of fear
A Norristown man testified he was “nervous and scared” when he fatally shot a Pottstown teenager.
NORRISTOWN » A Norristown man said he was “nervous and scared” that a Pottstown teenager was out to kill him so he confronted the teen first, fatally shooting the teenager, at a time when his “emotions were all over the place.”
“I was nervous and I was scared. I wasn’t thinking. My emotions were all over the place,” Isaiah “Zay” Freeman testified in Montgomery County Court on Friday, recalling the 6:30 p.m. July 6, 2017, encounter he had with 16-year-old Jordan Scott, of Pottstown, at the corner of Chain Street and Blackberry Alley in Norristown.
Freeman, 19, of the first block of East Spruce Street, told a jury he feared that Scott “mistakenly” believed that Freeman had shot and wounded him during a July 5 incident at Green and East Marshall streets in Norristown and that Scott had come to Norristown to kill him. Freeman claimed he didn’t intend to kill Scott but believed he had to confront Scott before Scott killed him. Freeman testified he was riding in a car operated by William Durell Wilson, 31, of Norristown, when he saw Scott walking in the area of Oak and Chain streets in Norristown with another teenager, Taye Wynder.
Freeman said when Wilson parked his Dodge Charger at Blackberry and Jamison alleys he got out of the vehicle with a gun
and walked along Blackberry Alley to the corner of Chain Street.
“I heard the footsteps getting closer. That’s when I jumped out and started shooting in their direction…just generally. It happened fast, very fast,” Freeman claimed, adding he then ran back to Wilson’s waiting vehicle and they fled from the area. “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what just happened.”
An autopsy determined Scott died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds and two projectiles were removed from the teenager’s body. Wynder suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle during the incident.
Freeman appeared to cry when he told defense lawyer John I. McMahon Jr. that’s he’s sorry he killed Scott, who he claimed at one time had been his friend.
“I feel very bad,” Freeman said.
During the trial, McMahon didn’t dispute that Freeman shot Scott but suggested Freeman didn’t commit first- or third-degree murder but manslaughter. McMahon suggested Freeman acted with “an unreasonable belief” that Scott and Wynder had come to Norristown to harm him. Testimony revealed Scott and Wynder also were armed with guns at the time of the incident.
Freeman faces charges of first- and third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms and possessing instruments of crime in connection with Scott’s death.
First-degree murder is an intentional killing punishable by life imprisonment. Third-degree murder is a killing with malice punishable by 20 to 40 years in
prison. But manslaughter is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.
During cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney Samantha Cauffman, Freeman admitted that he lied to detectives after his arrest and even claimed Wilson was the triggerman. Cauffman also pointed out that on social media sites Freeman called himself “Crafty Zay,” implying he was crafting a story for the jury.
While prosecutors contend Freeman was the triggerman
they alleged Wilson was the person who supplied the murder weapon and was the getaway driver. Wilson also faces the murder-related charges under accomplice liability theories.
Under cross-examination by Wilson’s lawyer A. Charles Peruto Jr., Freeman denied that Wilson gave him the murder weapon and claimed Wilson didn’t know that a shooting was about to occur. Peruto has argued to the jury that there was no conspiracy between Wilson and Freeman.
A day before the fatal shooting, prosecutors alleged, Scott suffered a graze
wound from a gunshot to the back during an earlier altercation with others at 12:40 a.m. July 5, 2017, at Green and East Marshall streets in Norristown, part of an ongoing feud between groups from Norristown and Pottstown.
Nathaniel Howard, of North Washington Street in Pottstown, testified he was with Scott later on July 5 in Pottstown and he posted a video of Scott’s wound on the social media site Snapchat. Jurors viewed the video on Friday.
“Who did he (Scott) say shot him?” Cauffman asked Howard.
“Zay,” Howard responded, referring to Freeman.
Howard, 20, testified that later on the morning of July 5, Scott used a Facebook phone messaging program to call Freeman. Howard testified he overheard the conversation and recalled Freeman telling Scott, “I’m gonna (sic) kill you.”
Following the conversation, Freeman allegedly sent Facebook messages to Scott saying, “Stop rapping” and “Don’t tell,” according to testimony.
When McMahon, during cross-examination, pressed Howard further about the alleged Facebook conversation he overheard between Freeman and Scott, Howard lashed back.
“Why are you being so antagonistic to me?” Howard addressed McMahon.
“Am I being antagonistic?” McMahon asked. “Yes,” Howard continued. Before Howard began his testimony and before jurors, the lawyers and the judge were in the courtroom, Freeman and Howard apparently locked eyes. County Detective Gregory Henry testified at that time, Freeman leaned forward, put his finger to his lips and then mouthed, “Don’t say anything.”
Prosecutors suggested the conduct was evidence of Freeman’s consciousness of guilt.
Throughout the day,
Wilson and Freeman didn’t react to the testimony in the courtroom. But Wilson appeared happy as he was escorted to and from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies during breaks, including making remarks to detectives when he saw them.
“How you doin (sic) Todd? I’m just chillin (sic), it’s a beautiful day,” Wilson said jubilantly to county Detective Todd Richard, who is a former Pottstown detective.
Later, when Wilson saw county Detective Michael Crescitelli, the lead investigator, Wilson smiled and said, “Hey man, what’s up with you man? I love that suit man.”