An 18-year-old who is a suspect in two separate shootings out of Grand Rapids began to argue his defense in the first case to reach trial on Tuesday.
Cartiyae Pascal faces attempted murder charges in connection to a shooting outside a convenience story on September 1, 2024. Pascal ambushed a man outside the Liquor City convenience store on Madison Avenue and shot him 5 times, said police.
Pascal represented himself in court, delivering his own opening statement in the case.
“It’s easy for them to say this is who did it, but I come to tell you now that this is a case of mistake identification,” Pascal said.
Cartiyae Pascal, 18, stands trial for attempted murder while awaiting murder trial
However, investigators said they arrested the right person, showing the jury surveillance video that captured the shooting.
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In her opening statement, Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Bartlett told jurors the victim’s mother sent her son into the store to buy some things, not knowing Pascal was inside.
“She sends her son into the store to get these couple of items for her, having no idea that she is sending him into the hands of this defendant, that she is sending him in to an attempted execution,” Bartlett said…