LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — The jury in the Lynchburg Dollar General murder trial won’t start deliberating the defendant’s fate until Monday.
Testimony wrapped up late Friday afternoon, after nine witnesses testified, including the defendant, Caleb Spinner.
Spinner is charged with second-degree murder and several firearm charges in the killing of Trevor Weeks.
The shooting happened outside the Dollar General on Boonsboro Road back in July 2022.
Witnesses say Weeks was drunk and acting aggressively.
He had a blood alcohol level of .2, which equals more than 10 drinks.
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Security video played shows Weeks coming into the store with a drink. He spins the grocery bag dispenser a few times before they all go outside.
A few minutes later, you can see Spinner with a gun in hand, walking back into the store. Weeks walks toward him, and as Weeks puts his hand in his own pocket, Spinner shoots at him multiple times.
Spinner testified that the shooting was in self-defense.
He said he thought Spinner had a gun and was about to shoot him.
But, according to police testimony, Weeks didn’t have a gun.
The prosecution argued that there’s not enough proof that Spinner faced a threat of serious injury.
The judge agreed there was sufficient evidence for the argument of self-defense.
The defense asked that the murder charge be dropped to voluntary manslaughter.
That will be decided Monday morning.
That’s also when closing arguments take place and the jury will start deliberations.
