The attorneys working the 2021 Princess Theater shooting case appeared in Christian County Circuit Court on Tuesday for an evidentiary hearing concerning trial evidence and court proceedings.
Zamarius Humphries and Jaquavian Spencer, who are represented by Sands Chewning, are charged with first-degree assault in relation to a shooting outside of the Princess Theater where they both allegedly pulled guns on one another and Humphries was shot in the neck. Deovion Day, who is represented by Daniel Whitley, is charged with murder after he allegedly attempted to shoot Spencer but fatally shot Aniyah Collins and injured Gteria Acree.
In court, attorneys and Circuit Judge Andrew Self discussed evidence related to the case that was reportedly posted on Snapchat by Spencer, ballistics testing and in what order the defendants will be tried.
Regarding the evidence on Snapchat, Commonwealth’s Attorney Maureen Leamy says Spencer reportedly sent a Snapchat video to Cortez Hairston Jr. where he detailed the shooting and made admissions.
Leamy says the Snapchat video should be admissible as evidence in court. Chewning, who wants to exclude Spencer’s statement, says the video indicates that Spencer acted in self-defense. Circuit Judge Andrew Self says the video is also an admission to him being in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Turning toward the scene of the crime, Whitley says there were three types of shell casings found at the scene and not a determination of who shot Collins and Acree, however Leamy disagreed with Whitley’s claim.
Self ruled for a crime scene reconstruction report to be made and also denied a bond reduction motion for Humphries and Spencer. When they reconvene, Self says he plans to make a ruling on Chewning’s evidence exclusion motion and whose case will go to trial on June 10. Self says it is his intention to try Spencer’s case first.
The evidentiary hearing will continue in court on June 4.