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Three men stand trial for the shooting death of 15-year-old Zaevion Dobson. Court continues Tuesday in Knox County, Tennessee. Chistopher Drone Bassett, 22, Kipling Colbert Jr., 22, and Richard Gregory Williams III, 23 all face charges of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. Bassett was also indicted on unlawful possession of a firearm.
Two girls said during testimony that Dobson died shielding them from gunfire back on Dec. 17, 2015. Prosecutors say Bassett, Colbert, and Williams were among two carfuls of gunmen who opened fire in a spate of gang-related violence. They claim the trio joined Brandon Perry, who was getting revenge for a shooting earlier in the day in which his mother was injured. Perry was himself shot and killed hours after Dobson passed away.
Knoxville Police Department investigator A.J. Loeffler testified that he interrogated Bassett. Interview footage shows Bassett changing his story. He eventually admitted that he joined Perry that day, but insisted that he did not shoot anyone. Instead, when time came to open fire, he aimed at the air.
The defense argues the shooting wasn’t gang related.
Dobson’s death caught national attention, even getting notice from ESPN and Barack Obama, who was president at the time of the shooting.
Stay with Law&Crime.com and the Law&Crime Network for continuing coverage of the trial.
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