Witnesses provide conflicting details about shooting in Desean Williamson murder trial

Prosecutors concluded their case Thursday in the murder trial of Desean Williamson , 24 of Akron. He is accused of shooting and killing 20-year-old Gage Zirke three years ago in Akron's Kenmore neighborhood.

Jurors heard from two key witnesses, who testified they did not see the shooting but were present for it. Their stories did not always line up and placed Williamson at different places after the shooting.

Trial begins: Desean Williamson murder trial begins: Witnesses describe moments before, after shooting

Despite that, only one witness, Melvin Griffin, identified Williamson with a gun after he heard shots fired.

"He was standing there with a gun in his hand," Griffin testified.

Williamson, who is represented by attorneys Kerry O'Brien and John Greven, is charged with murder, felony murder and felonious assault. Each count has a gun specification, which could result in additional prison time.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Towell told jurors to return to the courtroom Friday at 8:30 a.m. when defense attorneys will present their case.

What to know about the shooting

Zirke was shot to death in the front seat of his vehicle and crashed into a tree near the 2300 block of 11th Street in Akron on July 25, 2021. He was pronounced dead at about 7 p.m.

The Nothern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Williamson and Teion Thompson in connection to the shooting. Akron police said the two were involved in a verbal altercation with Zirke before the shooting.

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Akron police Detective. Stanley Davis told the jury the argument occurred over a set of stolen speakers. He explained that one month before the shooting, Williamson had reported the speakers from his vehicle were stolen.

Thompson was initially charged with conspiracy to murder as he was accused of driving Williamson away from the scene, Davis explained.

Thompson, represented by attorney Jacob Will, was then indicted in Summit County Common Pleas Court on charges of felonious assault, obstructing justice and two counts of murder plus firearm specifications. He entered a deal with prosecutors in May and pleaded guilty to obstructing justice.

Two key witnesses take the stand

Two of the prosecution's key witnesses were Thompson and Griffin. The latter was subpoenaed and escorted to court by officers working for the Summit County Prosecutor's Office, said Seema Misra, an assistant prosecutor on the case.

Both witnesses testified they were present during the shooting but did not witness it.

In the hours before the shooting, Williamson drove Thompson, Griffin and a third individual to Youngstown in a rented red Toyota Camry, they testified. Thompson said he wanted to buy an iPhone 12, which was not available in Akron.

After spending about two hours in Youngstown, Williamson drove them to Kenmore.

Conflicting accounts of the moment immediately before shooting

Williamson, who parked in Kenmore on 11th Street, walked into a nearby home, both witnesses testified. Thompson said everyone left the car to stretch but got back in the vehicle. Griffin made no mention of this.

A black car then arrived from which, Thompson said, one person left for the same house Williamson entered before a third vehicle pulled into a driveway. Griffin did not immediately recall this, but mentioned it later in his testimony.

Roughly five minutes after Williamson entered the home, Williamson and two others walked out, including one male Thompson described as white.

When attorney O'Brien asked Griffin about whom Williamson left the house with, Griffin said there was no third person nor anyone present he would describe as white.

"(Williamson) was with some dude he was fighting," Griffin added. "They were pushing, like a little fistfight."

Then came the gunshots.

Where was Williamson immediately after the shooting?

Thompson testified he ducked. Griffin testified he looked away but turned toward the noise to see Williamson in the street holding a gun.

Thompson said he never saw Williamson with a weapon at any point that day.

The two witnesses also gave differering accounts of what happened next .

"Then Desean gets in the car, and we pulled out," Thompson said, placing himself in the back seat of the red Toyota Camry.

Griffin testified that Thompson hopped into the driver seat and took the Toyota to a nearby apartment while Williamson climbed into another vehicle, something prosecutors challenged.

"We saw video of four people getting out of the car (at the apartment)," Misra said. "Who was the fourth person who got out of the car?"

"I don't recall," Griffin replied.

Bryce Buyakie covers courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @bryce_buyakie.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Witnesses provide conflicting details about shooting in Desean Williamson murder trial