Georgetown man already jailed for life faces new murder trial for 2023 shooting

Ryan Woodruff, serving life for two 2021 killings, stands trial for fatally shooting 19-year-old Ty'Quez Walker. A key witness testified he held her at gunpoint after the shooting.

Georgetown man on trial for third killing while serving life sentence

Ryan Woodruff, a Georgetown, South Carolina man already imprisoned for life following two murders in 2021, appeared in court Tuesday as his third murder trial got underway, counton2.com reports. Opening statements and witness testimony began in the case involving the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Ty'Quez De'Metrius Walker.

Woodruff had previously been convicted of beating his uncle, Roger Woodruff, and Debra Goins to death in May 2021 — a meth-fuelled attack, according to the solicitor's office. Goins was in a wheelchair at the time of the assault.

While out on bond for those two murders, Woodruff allegedly shot and killed Walker at a Meadow Street home in January 2023. He is now standing trial specifically for Walker's death.

Prosecution: victim's gun was never drawn

In opening statements Tuesday morning, the prosecution told the jury that Woodruff had been operating his home as a tattoo parlour. Walker, who was known to Woodruff, came to the residence that evening. According to prosecutors, Woodruff decided Walker's demeanour was unusual, retrieved a racked 12-gauge shotgun, and fired at him.

Solicitor Adam Harrelson stressed a central point of the state's case: "There's something very important that we've got to pay attention to. That pistol in Ty'Quez's waistband never came out. He never pointed it at Ryan."

Defence argues the full picture is missing

Woodruff's attorney pushed back during opening statements, suggesting the situation was more complex than the prosecution presented.

"These 'paying customers' act up, getting illegal tattoos at my client's house," the defence attorney said. "If we're asking you, as our jury, to make reasonable decisions that may have consequences, then we need to make sure that we know the entire story."

Witness: 'I was held at gunpoint for over an hour'

The prosecution then called its first witnesses. A responding officer testified that Woodruff appeared frantic at the scene and that his account of events was incoherent.

A second witness, Molly Shelly — who had to be subpoenaed to appear — provided some of the most direct testimony of the day. Shelly said she had known Woodruff for fourteen years and described their relationship as a friendship that was at times romantic. She was present at Woodruff's home the night Walker was shot and witnessed the shooting directly.

Shelly testified that the shotgun used in the killing had been given to Woodruff as a Christmas gift by his brother. She confirmed that Walker carried his own firearm but never drew it or made any threat.

Following the shooting, Shelly said she and Woodruff's brother removed the gun from the home and placed it under a bed at her residence, where police later recovered it.

She also testified that Woodruff's behaviour after the shooting placed her in fear for her own life.

"I was held at gunpoint for over an hour," Shelly said. "I was the only one that tried to get the people to be able to leave and escape for their lives because he was holding us at gunpoint."

A jury was seated Monday, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office. The trial is set to continue Wednesday.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown