Opinion ID: 1993454
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Events of January 29 and 30, 2003.

Text: The events surrounding Lowry's death were presented primarily through the testimony of Jermaine Dunn and Nadeena Washington. McGhee, Dunn, Lowry, and Washington were good friends who frequently socialized together. From the testimony presented at trial, all smoked marijuana and drank alcohol. In addition, both Dunn and McGhee had a history of smoking wet, a marijuana cigarette dipped in formaldehyde that has been cut with a drug known as PCP. During the daylight hours of January 29, 2003, the four, along with Lowry's uncle and McGhee's cousin, were at McGhee's home in Omaha drinking and smoking marijuana. Washington testified that she and Lowry had been invited over by McGhee and that when they arrived with Dunn and Lowry's uncle, McGhee seemed upset. The party broke up approximately 30 to 45 minutes later. Later that evening, Lowry and Washington, along with their 4-year-old son, picked up Dunn and returned to McGhee's home. Upon arrival, they observed McGhee involved in a physical altercation with his girlfriend. Though the evidence is not definitive, it appears that Lowry broke up the fight, the girlfriend left, and the others went inside. Washington testified that the girlfriend continued to telephone McGhee at his home throughout the evening. The party went on for 2 to 3 hours before McGhee and Washington left to purchase alcohol. According to Washington's testimony, in the 15 minutes she and McGhee were out, they had a conversation in which McGhee implied that he was God. Upon their return, McGhee and Washington resumed a game of dominoes they had been playing, while Dunn and Lowry played pool. All were drinking and smoking marijuana, and at one point, another acquaintance stopped by for a brief visit. Washington and Dunn testified that there had been no arguments or disagreements between McGhee and Lowry that evening, though Dunn indicated that Lowry had initially expressed displeasure that Washington was going with McGhee to purchase alcohol. Both Washington and Dunn also testified that McGhee had been acting strange recently, including during the course of that evening. In particular, Dunn testified that about 5 minutes before Lowry was shot, McGhee had acted bizarre, pacing around and briefly going outside. Both Dunn and Washington blamed McGhee's general behavior on smoking wet, although there is no evidence that he was smoking wet on this particular evening. In addition, both Dunn and Washington testified that prior to the shooting, neither had seen a gun that evening. At some point before Lowry was shot, Washington fell asleep on the couch. Lowry ultimately woke her so the couple and their son could leave, but McGhee talked them out of leaving by producing a large bag of marijuana, and Washington went back to sleep. According to Dunn, McGhee tried to get Washington to roll him a blunt, but she was still sleeping. McGhee refused to let Lowry do it, so Dunn left the room to do it instead. Dunn testified that he was in the back room when the music suddenly got concert loud. Dunn then heard a gunshot. Upon returning to the main room, Dunn saw McGhee pointing a gun at him and Lowry lying on the floor. At about this time, Washington was awakened by her son, who told her that McGhee had hit Lowry with a pool stick and that Lowry was bleeding. McGhee then pointed the gun between Dunn and Washington. While McGhee indicated that he would not shoot them, he nevertheless chased Dunn around the house. Dunn escaped through the front door, which he and Washington both testified was locked, though it had not been locked earlier in the evening. As he escaped out the front door, Dunn testified he heard another gunshot. Washington testified that this gunshot was McGhee's shooting Lowry a second time. She also testified that after McGhee shot Lowry the second time, he turned to Washington and said, I saved you. Dunn testified that after he left the house, he saw McGhee walk out onto the front porch of the home, but that McGhee did not appear to see Dunn. Dunn then used a nearby pay telephone to call the 911 emergency dispatch service. Dunn waited for police, directing them to McGhee's home upon their arrival. When McGhee left the house to look for Dunn, Washington locked the front door behind him. Washington testified that she attempted to call 911 using McGhee's telephone, but found that it had been unplugged. Washington then found Lowry's cellular telephone in his pocket and called 911. Meanwhile, McGhee kicked the door in and reentered the house. He took the telephone from Washington, then pointed the gun at Washington and demanded her car keys, which Washington could not find. McGhee then forced Washington and her son out of the front door of the house and around to the back alley. McGhee then led them on what Washington described as a zig-zag path for about a mile. During this time, McGhee stopped to hide when he heard police sirens and kept saying that the victim was bad and not pure and that he should have killed Dunn as well. Washington also testified that McGhee kept asking her questions about her son, implying that he, McGhee, was the child's father and that he and Washington had been involved in a sexual relationship. Washington testified that this was not true. At one point, McGhee disposed of Dunn's and Lowry's cellular telephones, but soon after retrieved Lowry's telephone. He then used the telephone to call someone to tell him or her that they were coming. Throughout this walk, McGhee had the gun with him and often insisted on carrying Washington's son. Eventually, the three arrived at McGhee's aunt's home. McGhee again turned the music up, but allowed Washington to use Lowry's cellular telephone to call for a ride. At some point, McGhee's aunt came downstairs. According to Washington, she told the aunt that McGhee had killed Lowry, which McGhee then denied. In contrast, the aunt testified that Washington simply told her that she and her son were waiting for a ride. In any event, the ride arrived and Washington and her son left. According to Washington, they left the aunt's home sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. on January 30, 2003. After Washington and her son left, McGhee indicated that he was also leaving. He returned to the aunt's home at about 6 a.m. and went to sleep. Eventually, the police determined his whereabouts, surrounded the home, and took McGhee into custody. The weapon used to kill Lowry was never recovered.