BEAUMONT, Texas — Testimony is underway for a man accused of murdering a Beaumont father in 2019.
John Cook Jr., 22, is charged in connection to the murder of Anthony Wilson, 37.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above is from a August 2, 2023 newscast.)
He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday before Judge John Stevens in the Criminal District Court. Cook is being represented by Defense Attorney James Makin.
The deadly shooting happened on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Beaumont Police responded to the 6800 block of Madrid Drive after receiving a call about a shooting victim.
Responding officers found Wilson lying near a roadway. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers later learned three males committed several burglaries in the Dowlen West neighborhood, according to a Beaumont Police Department release.
Police believe Wilson confronted the suspects, at which point the suspects shot him and stole his truck.
Wilson's truck was in the found abandoned 400 block of Norwalk Lane.
An ID technician who started testimony Wednesday was the first person called to the stand Thursday morning by the prosecution.
Prosecutor Mike Laird showed crime scene photos of multiple gunshot wounds on Wilson, shell casings and evidence markers. The ID technician explained why each photo was taken.
Some Beaumont Police officers testified as well. One testified about the search for Cook following the shooting and how he was found as a passenger of a car where the driver was driving recklessly.
Officers also testified about auto burglaries that happened in the neighborhood and that a gun that was stolen in one of the auto burglaries is the one used to kill Wilson.
On Wednesday, Laird called forensic pathologist Dr. Tommy Brown to the stand as his first witness.
Dr. Brown performed the autopsy on Wilson. Laird displayed autopsy photos to the jury as he asked Dr. Brown to explain the significance of each.
Dr. Brown described three gunshot wounds to Wilson. He also described bullets “fragmenting” after Wilson was hit.
In cross-examination, Makin asked Brown if he found anything during the autopsy that would identify Cook as the shooter, in which Brown said he would leave that to the investigator.
Makin asked if it would be possible to get fingerprints or something like them from a bullet, in which Brown said no.
Makin asked if the wounds appeared to be close-up shots, but Brown said the bullets appeared to have been fired at least two feet away from the victim.
In opening statements Tuesday, Laird told the jury that they will need pay attention because they will need to decide if a crime was committed and if so, which crime was committed.
He told the jury they will see surveillance video from the night Wilson died from multiple cameras. He says video evidence will show three people, one of whom is Cook.
Laird says the jury will hear 911 calls related to burglary in the neighborhood, other calls about the shooting and will hear testimony that will show Cook is guilty.
"Wow, what a story," Makin said in response to Laird's opening statements.
Makin told the jury that the state of Texas needs to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cook knew Bryce Bell had a gun and was going to use it.
He told the jury they will hear from Bell who will testify that Cook wasn't even there.
Makin told the jury that none of the evidence presented during the trial will connect Cook to the murder.
RELATED: Teen sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to 2019 murder of Beaumont father
Bell was 15 when he was arrested in connection with the murder. Even though Bryce Bell was a minor when he was charged, Bell was certified as an adult on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.
Bell was set to stand trial in July 2022 for his involvement in the deadly shooting but plead guilty as jury selection was about to begin.
On November 9, 2022, Bell was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
If Bryce Bell would have stood trial, he could have faced five to 99 years or life in prison and a $10,000 fine if he was found guilty. Due to the plea, he faced 30 years at the most.
Jamirious Jantel Gardner and Bernard Bell were also charged in connection with Wilson's murder.
Gardner plead guilty to first-degree felony murder and six counts of burglary of a habitation on Monday, October 31, 2022.
If Gardner had gone through with a trial, he could have been sentenced to anywhere from 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of the murder charge.
Gardner could have also received anywhere from 2 to 20 years in prison and another $10,000 fine if he had been found guilty of the six burglary charges.
Gardner will be sentenced to 10 years collectively for the six burglary charges. The 10-year sentence for murder will run concurrently with the 10-year sentence for the six counts of burglary of a habitation.
Investigators believe Bernard Bell was given a gun used in connection with the 2019 homicide and disposed of or hid it. He was sentenced to almost six years in February 2020.
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