A Connecticut man was charged Monday with two counts of murder for a deadly New Haven shooting that his attorney claims was self-defense.
Sergio Thomas, 39, was accused of killing Daiquan Hyman, 26, and Ernest Williams, 32, on Aug. 25, the New Haven Register reported. He was arraigned Monday and held on $3 million bail.
Thomas’ lawyer, Darnell Crosland, said he was only defending his brother from the two men, according to local CBS affiliate WFSB. Crosland claimed Hyman and Williams were plotting to kill Thomas’ brother.
Both sides agree that Hyman, Williams and Thomas’ brother were involved in a dispute in New Haven on the night of the killings and were planning to hash it out with a fistfight, local Fox affiliate WTIC reported. Thomas’ brother was dating the sister of one of the victims.
Police said then as the men walked to brawl, Thomas arrived and gunned down Hyman and Williams, the Register reported. Cops said one man was crawling away on his hands and knees when Thomas fired four more shots at him.
“Video evidence doesn’t lie,” Assistant Chief David Zinnelli told the paper, referencing footage captured on a doorbell camera.
But Crosland said Hyman and Williams attacked Thomas’ brother and attempted to stab Thomas, leading Thomas to open fire in his own defense.
“His brother was on the ground,” Crosland told WTIC. “One of the individuals took a knife out and tried to stab him. We’ve recovered the shirt that has evidence of the stab.”
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