Georgetown man already jailed for life faces third murder trial in Walker shooting

Ryan Woodruff, serving life for two killings, stood trial Tuesday for the 2023 shotgun death of 19-year-old Ty'Quez Walker. A key witness testified she was held at gunpoint for over an hour after the shooting.

Georgetown triple-murder suspect faces jury over 2023 shotgun killing

Ryan Woodruff, a Georgetown man already sentenced to life in prison for two separate killings, appeared in court Tuesday as his third murder trial got underway, wbtw.com reports. Opening statements and the first round of witness testimony were heard in the case centred on the January 2023 shooting death of 19-year-old Ty'Quez De'Metrius Walker.

Woodruff had previously been convicted of fatally bludgeoning his uncle, Roger Woodruff, and Debra Goins — who was in a wheelchair at the time of the attack — in May 2021. The solicitor's office said he carried out those killings in a methamphetamine-induced rage. While out on bond for those murders, authorities allege he shot and killed Walker at a Meadow Street home.

Prosecution: pistol never left Walker's waistband

In opening statements Tuesday morning, prosecutors told the jury that Woodruff had converted his home into a tattoo parlour and that Walker visited because the two knew each other. Woodruff, according to the prosecution, decided Walker's behaviour seemed strange, went inside to retrieve a racked shotgun, returned, pointed the 12-gauge weapon at Walker and fired.

Solicitor Adam Harrelson emphasised that Walker's own pistol remained holstered throughout the encounter. "There's something very important that we've got to pay attention to," Harrelson told the court. "That pistol in Ty'Quez's waistband never came out. He never pointed it at Ryan."

Defence pushes back: 'We need the entire story'

Woodruff's attorney argued in his opening statement that the situation was more complicated than the prosecution suggested. "These 'paying customers' act up, getting illegal tattoos at my client's house," the attorney said, urging jurors to consider the full context before reaching a verdict.

Officer: defendant's account 'didn't make any sense'

After opening statements, prosecutors called their 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 detailed testimony of the day. Shelly told the court she had known Woodruff for fourteen years and that they had an intermittent romantic relationship alongside their friendship. She said she was present at the house on the night of the shooting and witnessed Woodruff fire the weapon that killed Walker.

Shelly identified the shotgun used in the killing as a Christmas gift Woodruff had received from his brother. She confirmed that Walker had a firearm on him but never drew it or threatened anyone with it.

She further testified that after the shooting, she and Woodruff's brother removed the gun from the house, took it to her home and placed it under a bed, where it remained until police recovered it.

Shelly described the moments after the killing in stark terms, saying Woodruff turned the weapon on those still inside. "I was held at gunpoint for over an hour," she told the court. "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."

Jury seated Monday; trial to continue

A jury was selected Monday, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office. The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown