Witnesses recall Sunbury convenience store shooting on first day of homicide trial
May 15—SUNBURY — A witness inside a Sunbury convenience store testified she heard "pop pop" and thought someone tossed a firecracker until she heard people yelling to call 911 because a man was on the ground bleeding from gunshot wounds on May 19, 2022.
The witness, Sue Herb, testified Wednesday during Day 1 of the trial for accused murderer Ajani Munsh-Ousha Uhuru, 23, of Sunbury.
According to charges filed in Northumberland County by Sunbury police, Uhuru, 23, entered the Penn Jersey Food Mart on Fourth Street in Sunbury and argued with the victim, Kareem Jakes, 30. Jakes punched Uhuru before Uhuru pulled out a gun, shot and killed Jakes then left the area.
Uhuru is being represented by Williamsport attorney Robert Hoffa. County President Judge Paige Rosini is presiding over the case.
Northumberland County District Attorney Michael O'Donnell, who is prosecuting the case, said during his opening statement that Uhuru was not acting in self-defense, but instead committed homicide.
"I heard a pop pop and saw smoke in the air," Herb testified. "I then heard people say 'call 911.'"
Herb was one of 10 witnesses who testified Wednesday. They included Jakes' sister, Charisma Jakes, who testified Uhuru stood over the body of her brother and said, "I told you not to mess with me," after the shooting.
Charisma Jakes was then cross-examined by Hoffa, who continued to ask the woman if she heard Uhuru because a video from inside the store was played to the jury and showed she was not near Uhuru at the time he walked past her brother.
Charisma Jakes also testified Uhuru threatened her before leaving, telling her that if she told anyone, she would also be harmed. Hoffa again pressed the woman, showing parts of video from inside the Penn Jersey Food Mart showing Uhuru walking past the woman and never looking back. He asked her how she was able to determine what Uhuru said in the brief moment she was near him.
O'Donnell played the graphic video to the jury that shows Uhuru entering the store and grabbing a drink before Jakes enters the store and the two begin a conversation. The video shows Jakes and Uhuru speaking before Jakes throws a punch and Uhuru pulls out a weapon and shoots Jakes. Uhuru then walks past Jakes, stops for a moment, and leaves the store. Uhuru's defense disputes Charisma Jakes' recollection. Uhuru said in a separate video played for the jury that he apologized to Jakes for the shooting before fleeing the area.
Hoffa told the jury they would hear from Uhuru, who wants to tell his story and that it would show Uhuru feared Jakes.
Uhuru is expected to take the stand in Day 2, which begins at 9:15 a.m. today inside the Northumberland County Courthouse.
