Jury deliberating in Edison HS football player shooting death case

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Jurors are deciding the fate of a Fresno man who is on trial for the shooting death of Edison High School football player Marquis Sutton.

Terrance Lee is accused of murdering Sutton in September of 2012. Prosecutors say it's clear Lee was messing around with this gun for hours prior to the shooting. And witnesses said he had pointed it at them too. But defense attorneys say he had no intent to kill Sutton when he pulled the trigger.

"He says he was reaching for that gun off the fireplace and it just went off. Complete lie," said Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Savrnoch.

Prosecutors say Lee knew exactly what he was doing two years ago when he picked up a revolver, unloaded all of the bullets, put one back in, spun the chamber and locked it into place.

"Knowing the dangers, knowing the witnesses wanted him to stop, knowing that Marquis was not playing, he was scared, he's trying to get out of that apartment. The defendant pointed that gun again at Marquis and he pulled the trigger, without any regard at all for Marquis' life," said Savrnoch.

Jurors will decide whether Lee accidentally fired or intentionally killed Sutton inside his Northwest Fresno apartment.

Both sides agree, Lee shot Sutton. But defense attorneys say Lee does not have the intellectual capacity to know what he was doing or the dangers and consequences.

The public defender representing Lee told the court his client also knew Sutton for years, and would have no motive to kill him.

"Marquis Sutton chose to come over and have a drink of water there," said public defender Jim Lambe. "He could have gone back with Terrell Green. But he chose to go over to Mr. Lee's because they were friends. That is common sense. You don't shoot and kill a friend of yours."

After the murder, prosecutors say Lee didn't rush to help Sutton, as he lied dying on the sidewalk. Instead, he got bleach and towels and briefly cleaned up the crime scene before grabbing the gun and leaving. His defense attorney said the reason why is because Lee was dazed and shocked. He also pointed out, Lee has no violent criminal past prior to this deadly shooting.

Terrance Lee did not testify in his own defense. Jurors were given the case Friday afternoon. They will return to deliberate on Monday.