Surveillance video shown in court as Kori Muhammad stands trial for 4 Fresno murders
Day one of accused killer Kori Muhammmad’s quadruple-murder trial began Monday with tears and gasps as the prosecution showed surveillance video of 25-year-old security guard Carl Williams III being shot multiple times by Muhammad.
Muhammad is facing the death penalty for the murders of four people, including three victims who were fatally shot in downtown Fresno on April 18, 2017. Williams was killed about a week earlier at the Motel 6 on Blackstone Avenue near Ashlan Avenue after a verbal altercation with Muhammad turned deadly.
During opening statements Monday, the prosecution and defense presented vastly different sides of Muhammad, a felon with a troubled past.
Richard Beshwate, one of Muhammad’s two defense attorneys, told the jury the killings were tragic, but not the result of a callous killer. He said Muhammad is “a very sick man” with severe mental health issues going back to 1992.
Beshwate said Muhammad suffers from delusions, schizophrenia and psychosis. Beshwate said Muhammad was mentally ill the day he shot and killed Williams.
“He had a mental breakdown and he snapped,” Beshwate said.
Muhammad’s mental competency has already been an issue. Two court-appointed doctors found Muhammad incompetent to stand trial, but a judge later ruled he was competent.
Prosecutor Kelly Smith said Muhammad committed senseless murder, plain and simple.
“Cold, calculating and racist murder and attempted murder,” Smith said.
Courtroom sees surveillance video
He presented the surveillance video as evidence that Muhammad was prone to violent outbursts. The altercation at the Motel 6 was over Muhammad being asked to register and pay a small fee for visiting someone he knew at the motel.
Motel employee Roman Escamilla said it’s company policy. But Muhammad and the woman he was visiting that night argued with Escamilla. Inside the lobby, Muhammad confronted Escamilla and told him, “Remember, this is my ‘hood.”
Escamilla testified he felt unsafe and threatened. He remembers Muhammad never stopped staring at him.
“I’ll never forget that look,” he said.
Muhammad walked out and a few minutes go by before he heard gunshots, Escamilla said.
The surveillance video shows Williams standing outside the office and at the foot of the stairs. Muhammad’s female friend was standing a few steps from the bottom, talking to him.
After a few seconds, Muhammad, wearing a safety vest, is seen slowly walking behind Williams, then past his left shoulder. A few steps later, Muhammad is seen reach into his waistband and pulling out a handgun. He spins toward Williams, raises the weapon and begins firing. Williams stumble backwards, falling to the ground.
Muhammad then fires several shots up the stairwell where another security guard was standing. He was not hit.
Several of Williams’ family members began crying as they watched the video.
Muhammmad later told detectives he shot Williams because Williams disrespected him and he vowed to kill as many white men as he could.
On April 18, police said Muhammad went on a shooting spree near downtown Fresno that left three men dead: Mark Gassett, David Jackson and Zackary Randalls.
The trial continues Tuesday in Dept. 72.
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 3:04 PM.
