Testimony in much of day two of the Ricky Norwood murder trial in Marion County Court on Wednesday centered around Norwood’s sister allegedly becoming angry with murder victim Dustin Rhynes and another man for shooting into a field off Maulding Drive on the northeast side of Centralia.
Kendra Shackleford testified to hearing the gunshots toward a field which upset her neighbor Sandra Norwood. Shackleford says the two later got into a car and went to the home where Rhynes and the second man, Charles Collins, had gone. Shackleford said Sandra then got into an argument with Collins at the door about why they were shooting when kids lived there. Shackleford then drove with Sandra the short distance to a BBQ and card game where Sandra went inside to talk to her brother. She reported later hearing five or six gunshots.
Joietta Mansker was also at the home where the argument with Collins took place and testified to Collins putting his arm up when Sandra was poking him. After Collins reportedly touched Sandra, Mansker said Sandra called her brother on the phone before going to the BBQ. On cross-examination, Mansker said after later hearing about four shots, she went outside and later ran into Collins who told her Rhynes had been shot.
Police reports at the time of the murder in August 2015 indicated Collins had also been shot and received non-life-threatening injuries and was able to run from the scene for help.
The argument between Sandra and Collins had taken place at the home of Amelia Rivera. She also testified to the argument between the two over the shots fired. Rivera said after the argument Rhynes and Collins left walking from the home.
Tara Light who also lives on Wright Drive testified the two men earlier had said when confronted by Sandra about the shots said they were not shooting at her house. Light said Sandra indicated she planned to tell Ricky about what happened. Light said she later heard gunfire and thought something really bad had happened.
Janice Shipp who lives in the 1000 block of Saddler Street reported hearing gunshots the evening of the murder. When she looked out her window, she saw three guys jump into a van that had driven up in front of her home and then took off fast down the street. Shipp identified one of the three as Ricky Norwood and said she didn’t know the other two. Shipp estimated the time at around 8:30 or 9 p.m. On cross-examination, she admitted being asleep and initially being woken up by the scanner with police talking about gunshots fired. Defense attorney Dennis Hatch was in the middle of a lengthy cross-examination raising questions about her testimony when court was ended for the day. Shipp will return to the stand on Thursday morning.
Others testifying on Wednesday were Coroner Troy Cannon, Centralia Police Officers Trent Timmons and Blake Dukes about the crime scene investigation, and Devonte Whitelow who was at the BBQ.
