CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Closing arguments were heard Friday afternoon in a Kanawha County murder trial stemming from a 2016 fatal shooting.
Antonio Williams, 27, of Charleston, is accused of shooting and killing Shannon Cade, 20, of Charleston, and injuring a teenager on New Year’s Day 2016 at a Charleston home.
The jury began deliberating the case at about 2:30 p.m.
Assistant Kanawha County Prosecutor Debra Rusnak told the jury on Friday during her closing argument that Williams is guilty of killing Cade.
“With him, he brought chaos, terror, violence, and the only thing he left behind was a tragedy,” she said. ” For that reason, I ask you find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder, malicious wounding and wanton endangerment.”
Cade was shot at a home on Mathews Avenue on Charleston’s West Side as Williams allegedly fired several rounds through a window, striking him and a 14-year-old girl. The girl sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Police have said that Williams’ intended target was not necessarily Cade but someone else he thought was inside the home. Officers added that they believe the shooting was the result of an argument involving Williams’ girlfriend.
Rusnak described to the jury the testimony given by Cade’s mother, Kimberly Cade.
“You heard from Kim who told you that she heard shots, that the kids were screaming,” she said. “That she went downstairs and saw her 20-year old son laying on the dining room floor dying.
“Ladies and gentlemen this is not a game, this is not a TV show, this is murder. This is real life and you cannot turn it off and everyone can just go home. Shannon Cade will never go home again.”
Rusnak has said that Williams has attempted to effect testimony multiple times.
The defense has claimed that evidence has shown that there could have been other shooters and Williams shot was not that one that killed Cade.
The trial has been delayed multiple times with reasons such as the discovery of new evidence, a conflict of interest with a defense attorney and a witness, and lawyers needing more time to investigate the case.
According to instructions from Kanawha County Circuit Judge Charles King, the 12-member jury could find Williams not guilty or guilty of charges ranging from first-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter. He also faces malicious wounding and wanton endangerment charges.