On Tuesday September 3 a pastor testified about being shot in the arm. A man who was previously accused of shooting a baby in coastal Georgia was the subject of these accusations. Wilfredo Calix Flores is a pastor of a church in nearby Brunswick.
His church primarily serves the Hispanic faith community. Testimony provided by him stated that De'Marquise Elkins demanded money from him. This happened on March 11, which is 10 days before he shot the baby in question. While a direct connection has not been established in the case, it does seem as though the prosecutors wanted to establish a theme of violent behavior with the defendant.
When he told Elkins that he did not have any money, Flores was shot in the arm. On March 21, Elkins shot Antonio Santiago in Brunswick. Santiago died of his gunshot wounds when he was only 13 months old. That homicide case has thus been the primary emphasis of the court hearings in Marietta.
Prosecutors showed Flores an image of the firearm that was used to shoot Santiago. The pastor then stated that it was the same gun that was used to shoot him. Testimony such as this is usually considered accurate, though at certain times people may falsely believe that they are looking at the same weapon that was used to bring harm to them even if that were not actually the case. A friend of Elkins named Dont'e Jackson stated that he was with Elkins at the time.
Jackson stated that he was still around Elkins at the time that Flores was shot. He even stated to the court that he saw Elkins shoot Flores. The prosecution is thus getting ready to rest at the court in Marietta. That does not mean that the case is necessarily over, however.
Defense attorneys could still continue to plead their case. They might be able to provide some portion of the story that has not yet come to light. If nothing else, they would be able to make some statement that could change sentencing in the case.