An Akron murder trial that had been a case of “he said, he said,” gained a “she said” Friday afternoon.
Mikhale Brown, the ex-girlfriend of David Quarterman and a good friend of Marcus Price, testified that Price bragged about the February 2015 shooting of Ahmed Hill and that both Quarterman and Price laughed about it.
“He was happy that he did it — that he shot Ahmed,” Mikhale, 16, said of Price. “He talked about it a few times. He laughed about it like it was an accomplishment.”
Mikhale was one of the rebuttal witnesses that Summit County prosecutors called in Price’s murder trial Friday afternoon in response to Price’s testimony earlier in the day. Price was the one-and-only defense witness.
The murder trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O’Brien’s courtroom ended about 3:30 p.m. Friday, with closing arguments planned for Monday morning. The jury will then begin deliberations.
The courtroom was again packed Friday with family members and friends of both Price and Hill.
Price and Quarterman, who are friends and grew up together in Akron, both point to the other as the person who shot and killed Hill, 17, on Feb. 15, 2015, in a West Akron alley. No one else was present for the shooting, and police were unable to find the 9 mm pistol they believe was used.
Price, 19, is charged with aggravated murder. His trial began Monday.
Quarterman, also 19, pleaded guilty in February to complicity to commit voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. Prosecutors dismissed charges of murder and tampering with evidence. He will be sentenced May 19 for his role in Hill’s death and an unrelated robbery.
Quarterman fulfilled a condition of his plea agreement Wednesday when he testified against Price. He said Price told him he might kill Hill because he read texts on Hill’s phone that led him to believe Hill planned to “set him up.” He said he didn’t take Price seriously, but that Price followed through with the threat as the three walked down an alley on the way to buy marijuana.
Quarterman said Price shot Hill with a 9 mm that was used as a “community gun” among his friends.
Price, however, testified for about three hours Friday and placed the blame on Quarterman. Price and Quarterman’s descriptions of the shootings were nearly identical, except for who pulled the trigger.
“Did you shoot Ahmed Hill?” defense attorney Adam VanHo asked Price.
“No, I did not,” Price answered.
Price also claimed that Quarterman threatened him after the shooting and Price feared for his safety.
“I was still super scared,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘He’s going to kill me.’ ”
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Kevin Mayer pressed Price about statements he made that indicated he hadn’t had previous experience with police or handled guns. Mayer questioned Price about numerous charges he had as a juvenile and a photo Price posted on Facebook that showed him holding a gun in one hand and a machete in the other, pointing the gun at the camera.
Price said the gun was a replica, although the machete was real. He said he took the picture just to post it on Facebook.
Mayer also asked Price about his initial statement to Akron detectives in which he denied being in the alley.
“Sir, you lied to police,” Mayer said.
“Yes,” Price responded.
To counter Price’s testimony, prosecutors recalled Quarterman to the stand. Quarterman reiterated that he didn’t shoot Hill.
VanHo asked Quarterman why he admitted to a lesser offense if he had nothing to do with Hill’s death.
“You pleaded guilty by your own admission to a crime you didn’t commit,” VanHo said.
“Yes, sir,” Quarterman said.
Mikhale, who said she broke up with Quarterman after his arrest, testified that she went to an East Akron apartment with Price, Quarterman and Quarterman’s brother, Davaughn, after Hill’s shooting. She said Price talked about the shooting “every chance he got.” She said she asked Price why he did it and he told her Hill “was trying to set him up.”
VanHo asked Mikhale about her initial statements to police. She admitted that she didn’t tell the truth at first, but decided to when she heard Price was blaming Quarterman for the shooting.
“I felt it was wrong,” she said. “It was a cowardly move.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.