Prosecutors: Revenge over sibling’s death led to murder

Defendant Quincy Allen, right, sits with his attorney, Phil Carlisle, for his jury trial Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Allen, 22, is on trial for the shooting death of La’Quan Dunbar, 20, in April.

Though her reluctance to testify was apparent, a Toledo woman took the witness stand Tuesday and recounted how her former boyfriend came to her house after the fatal shooting of La’Quan Dunbar last April and told her he was responsible.

Latisha Riley testified that Quincy Allen said he was at a North Detroit Avenue gas station where he hit somebody in the head with a gun and the gun fired.

“He didn’t know if the person died or not,” she said.

Allen, 22, of 1343 Oak Hill Ct. is charged in Lucas County Common Pleas Court with two counts of murder and one count of participating in a criminal gang for the April 19 death of Mr. Dunbar, 20, at the Gas & Express Mart, 2315 N. Detroit Ave.

Prosecutors, in opening statements, described the killing as revenge for the slaying of Quincy Allen’s younger brother six months earlier by a rival gang member.

“Most of us allow society and the law to take care of things for us, but not Quincy Allen,” said Matt Simko, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor. “Quincy Allen lives outside the law and outside society. He’ll tell you that the place where he lives is, ‘You live by the gun, and you die by the gun.’ ”

After Allen’s brother, Deontae “Tae” Allen, 19, was shot in the back after running away from a robbery Oct. 18, 2012, his killer, Traquawn Gibson — a member of the Moody Manor Boyz — was convicted of his murder as well as the slaying of his own girlfriend and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Quincy Allen, Mr. Simko said, is a member of the South Side Gangster Disciples — rivals of the Moody Manor Boyz.

“Not only was the defendant’s brother murdered, but he was murdered by a sworn enemy,” he told the jury.

Defense attorney Phil Carlisle attacked the revenge theory, telling the jury that prosecutors would not be able to present “one single piece of evidence” that Allen even knew Mr. Dunbar. He said the only witness who claims to have seen a gun in Allen’s hand that night was Marlon Powell, the man who started the trouble.

“You will hear that testimony via video. Marlon Powell will not be here,” Mr. Carlisle said. “He’s fled. Why? Because he’s the one with the most to lose. When you take a look at the video from the gas station … you will clearly see that Marlon Powell was the instigator into both separate fights that occurred. You will see Marlon Powell sucker punch an individual on the video, and you will see him attempt to engage in a fight with La’Quan Dunbar.”

Two men — James Powell and Antonio Watson — separately told the jury Tuesday that they were getting gas that night when a fight broke out, and they heard a gunshot. Both said they got into their car to leave, and Allen jumped into the backseat. Neither said they saw him with a gun.

Erica Elmore testified that she was on her way home from work, stopped at a light by the gas station, and heard people arguing.

She said she heard someone say, “[expletive] Tae,” then heard a gunshot and saw Mr. Powell, Mr. Watson, and Allen get into a car and leave.

Prosecutors had previously told the court that Ms. Elmore, Ms. Riley, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Powell were reluctant to testify or had become uncooperative because of possible bribes or threats by Allen.

Under questioning by Ian English, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, Ms. Riley said Allen had asked her to give false testimony. She read portions of letters he had sent her from jail in which he told her prosecutors “can’t make you say” anything but that “you can say whatever you want” on the witness stand.

The trial is to resume at 1:30 p.m. in Judge Gene Zmuda’s courtroom.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.