MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The state has rested in the prosecution of Shaundarius Reeder for first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. A total of 11 witnesses detailed, the apprehension of Reeder and co-defendant Terrell Linear, the reaction of the woman who drove the suspects to Walmart and processing of evidence and lab results.
Both are accused of the killing of Eric Smith at the College Park Apartments in February of 2020.
Granville police responded after learning from MECCA 911 a woman with knowledge of the was at the Walmart where it was believed the suspects were as well. Due to the severity of the call, police entered the Walmart with AR-15s and almost immediately identified the suspects. One officer apprehended Reeder near the front of the store and another took Linear into custody in the first aid aisle.
Near the front of the store Reeder attempted to the arresting officer. As the officer gained compliance from Reeder a pink 9 mm handgun and a shell casing fell out of his clothing. Officers secured the evidence and held it for WVU police.
Police say they held Reeder for about 25 minutes before he was transported for questioning. During that time, Reeder asked the officer about his service weapon while noticing it was a Glock. When told the weapon was a 9 mm Reeder commented that the .40 caliber has much more stopping power. Reeder went on to the officer on scene that he was “infatuated with firearms.”
Police told the jury the woman who drove the suspects to Walmart was so scared she remained in a crouched position in an aisle while police spoke to her. Police had to take the woman from the rear exit of the store to the Granville Police Department for questioning. She faces no charges.
Just hours after the shooting was reported officers from WVU Police and Granville began gathering evidence with the help of detectives from the Morgantown Police Department.
Surveillance collected from businesses in downtown Morgantown and at the College Park Apartments showed Reeder with a pink pistol and Linear with a black pistol at different points in the evening.
The surveillance showed at 3:39 a.m. February 28 the group including the victim arrived at College Park Apartments Building 21. At 3:42 a.m. Reeder leads Linear into the building and linear is carrying a scissor jack. The pair went upstairs where they used the scissor jack to break windows in fire doors and damaged all the residential entry doors on the second floor. Just before 3:44 a.m. the pair have now pulled hoods over their heads and reenter the front entrance. While the pair entered the first floor where the shooting occurred Linear can be seen holding a black pistol and Reeder is using both hands to tightly close his hood to obscure his face. Before 3:45 a.m. the pair flee the building into the parking lot where there are no surveillance cameras.
Evidence had established gunpowder residue was found on the front and back of Terrell Linear’s hands and no residue was found on the hands of Reeder. The quality manager at the West Virginia State Police Lab explained the residue is consistent with chalk dust and can be worn off, washed off or even not left due winds or other conditions. Because of that, gunpowder residue alone cannot verify that someone fired or did not fire a weapon. Additionally, gunpowder residue tests are not used in all cases.
Dr. Piotr Kubiczek, deputy chief medical examiner in West Virginia told the jury Smith died from three penetrating gunshots and five perforating gunshot wounds. Penetrating wounds are when the bullet does not leave the body. Perforating wounds occur when the bullet passes through the body.
The two pistols, seven shell casing and seven recovered bullets were analyzed by the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory. The jury learned the lab determined two of those bullets were fired from the black pistol seen with Linear and five were confirmed fired from the pink pistol seen carried by Reeder in surveillance.
On Thursday, co-defendant Terrell Linear is expected to testify and the defense could present more evidence. Prosecutors will have the opportunity to cross examine then instructions will be agreed upon. Once the instructions are established the jury will begin deliberations.