Opinion ID: 2770333
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellant’s and Co-Defendants’ Statements

Text: After the government’s proffer, the court said that it would not ask any of the defendants, “[I]s everything the [g]overnment said correct[?]” Rather, the court asked each defendant about his “participation as far as the shootout is concerned[.]” In their responses, appellant and his co-defendants contradicted a key part of the government’s proffer. 2 The government also proffered that appellant admitted during an interview with law enforcement that he was the first to fire his weapon. 3 Daquan Tibbs, appellant’s brother, was killed by a gun fired by his companion, Wilkins. Davonta Artis, a 15-year-old who was not associated with the gun battle, was killed by a gun fired by a Clay Terrace resident. 6 Co-defendant Barnes, when asked by the court whether he knew something would happen when he walked into the courtyard that day, said, “No,” and asserted that prior to entering the courtyard where the shooting subsequently occurred, the 37th Place group had been “headed back to our [own] neighborhood,” “going home,” when “someone called Malique [Wilkins] to the courtyard.” Co-defendant Jackson, who at first told the court he would not be pleading guilty, 4 similarly asserted that someone in the courtyard called out to Wilkins, causing the group to walk inside the courtyard. When the court asked appellant about his participation and involvement, he affirmed that he arrived at Ms. Jackson’s home late in the morning on October 13, 2009, in time to see the .38 caliber revolver returned. Appellant asserted that, at the time the 37th Place group left Ms. Wilkins’s house, they “[were] going home.” However, as they were “going to the bus stop, one of the Clay Terrace boys called Malique to the courtyard.” Appellant followed him “to make sure he was all right[.]” While the two were talking with some of the Clay Terrace residents, someone said, “[T]hey got their guns out,” causing appellant to pull out his as well. Next, appellant explained, “[O]ne of them start pointing a gun at me. I start firing.” Appellant’s counsel added, 4 Jackson has since moved to withdraw his guilty plea as well. 7 There was a part . . . when Mr. Tibbs had his gun out and the gentleman from Clay Terrace had their [sic] gun out, [a Clay Terrace resident] was telling both of them to calm down, nothing was going to happen. At that point, the Clay Terrace guy raised his gun towards Mr. Tibbs. [The Clay Terrace resident] backed away, giving the guy a clear shot. At that point, Mr. Tibbs fired the first shots. Appellant agreed with his counsel’s description of the incident.5