UPDATE: Nine witnesses testify in murder trial against Delmar teen

A trial against the third suspect arrested in connection to the murder of a Fruitland teenager began Tuesday, with nine witnesses taking the stand.

Ky’Shir Connally, 19, faces 18 charges total including first degree murder.

Connally is on trial stemming from an August 2015 incident when authorities say 17 Rakim Russell of Fruitland was shot and killed in the parking lot of the America’s Best Value Inn on North Salisbury Boulevard.

This was reportedly after he [Russell] left a party, which Connally had attended earlier that night.

Connally was arrested days after the shooting along with 20-year-old Larry Ennis and 19-year-old Jarrett Stokes. Both Ennis and Stokes were convicted and sentenced earlier this year.

In opening statements Tuesday, Karen Dean, a prosecutor with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney made it clear that Connally is not believed to be the shooter; however, the state argued he is responsible for Russell’s death. This is because of his alleged involvement in an argument at the party.

Dean told the jury of 12 men and women that Connally and Ennis were asked to leave the “Under 21” party because “they felt outnumbered” and that Connally’s “pride was hurt” which led to this incident.

Authorities believe the group which reportedly included Connally, Ennis, Stokes and the driver of a Chevy Impala identified as Marquel Pinder, later returned to the party. They say Stokes shot four rounds into the crowd, with one of those those rounds striking and killing Russell.

The defense was quick to argue in their opening statement that Connally did not commit a murder.  Scott Collins, Connally’s attorney, noted being in the area of the incident is not a crime.

Collins told the jury his client was “merely in the backseat” and “along for the ride” but did not kill anyone.

Among the nine witnesses who testified Tuesday was an officer with the Salisbury Police Department who reportedly interviewed a party-goer one day after the shooting. He [party-goer] reportedly left the party with the group including Connally; however, he told the officer the group had said they going back to the party “with a burner”.

The trial is expected to last through Thursday.