Jurors ended their first day of deliberations without a verdict Wednesday in the trial of an Atlantic City man accused in a shooting at a high school football game that killed a 10-year-old boy.
The jury can consider self-defense only in the aggravated assault of Abdullah, who was paralyzed in the shooting.
Defense attorney Stephen Funk argued for a lesser charge of passion provocation manslaughter in Micah's killing, claiming Wyatt had no intention of shooting anyone when he came to that game.
But the state had a much different take.
Wyatt came to the game armed with a loaded handgun intent on exacting revenge on Abdullah, who he blamed for the Oct. 28, 2019, killing of his cousin, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy told the jurors.
No one has been charged in that killing. But Abdullah did plead guilty to shooting at Wyatt on that same date in Atlantic City. His plea also includes bringing a gun to the game.
The bullet that hit Micah could not have entered the left front side of his neck and exited out the right back the way it did if it had been fired from the position Wyatt's defense claims, Levy said.
The state alleges Wyatt went up the bleacher steps shooting, showing now regard for the hundreds of innocent bystanders in the stands.
It was murder, Levy told the jurors.
If found guilty on all counts, Wyatt could face life in prison.
Jurors asked to hear Wyatt's testimony again, along with viewing raw footage captured by Alex Cohen, who was recording highlights for ABC's Philadelphia affiliate when the shooting began.
They also saw the moment a police officer removed a loaded handgun from Abdullah's waistband, which was captured on a police officer's body camera.
Deliberations will continue Thursday.
