Man stands trial in 2020 fatal shooting of Bessemer City teen

A Gastonia man is standing trial on a first-degree murder charge in the death of an 18-year-old who was shot in 2020.

Markevion Antwan Weldon was arrested in September 2020 and accused of shooting and killing Jabar Nichols Jr., 18, of Bessemer City.

Police said at the time that Nichols was shot Sept. 6, 2020, while sitting on the front porch of a home on Southside Avenue in Gastonia.

On Monday, prosecutors sought to introduce body camera footage of an eyewitness who they have been unable to locate. As part of the hearing, they played body camera footage taken shortly after the shooting.

The witness, Lakita Mitchell, is seen in the footage telling police that she was sitting in her car when she saw two men run up and shoot a man who was sitting on a chair on her porch.

"They just came up on the porch and started shooting. He tried to run," Mitchell said at the time.

Defense attorney Aaron Lee told Judge Gregory Horne that he intends to argue that the shooting was in self defense.

Horne said that he will allow the footage to be played for the jury, even if Mitchell can't be found to testify.

Jury selection in the trial began Monday afternoon. The trial is expected to last more than a week.

Weldon's co-defendant, Jaquis Mill, awaits trial on a charge of first-degree murder.

Also known as "Lil D," Nichols was laid to rest Sept. 12, 2020.

The Bessemer City High School senior was a member of New Canaan Baptist Church where he participated in the youth ministry.

His parents would go on to receive his diploma at the high school graduation ceremony.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Man stands trial in 2020 fatal shooting