McCray guilty of City Grill shootings

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It took seven hours for jurors to return a guilty verdict in the Riccardo McCray murder trial.

In front of a packed courtroom filled mostly with family members of the victims, Defense Attorney Joseph Terranova's closing arguments never swayed from his opening statements, that the prosecution had no reliable witnesses.

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Terranova said, "There's no proof that my client was the shooter of any of these individuals."

Prosecutor James Bargnesi not only spoke to jurors, he showed dramatic surveillance video that had not been seen in court before.

Though it wasn't very clear, the video shows someone approaching a man in white on the ground, pausing, firing another bullet, then fleeing.

Moments later that man, identified later as Danyell Mackin, stumbles and drops.

Bargnesi said, "Danyell Mackin, the groom, was the intended target that night of this defendant shot not once but twice, the only person out of every single victim."

The defendant sat calmly, and after the closing arguments, could only wait for the verdict.

Seven hours after the jury was given the case, he was found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The defense attorney did not talk to reporters after the verdict.

Prosecutors were thankful that the pieces came together in their favor.

Bargnesi said, "Through the courageous citizens that were able to come into the courtroom and say what they saw, and talk about what they knew, and point to this defendant in front of everybody, that was putting us on the right path."

Prosecutor Mary Beth Depasquale said, "We have a video that shows the defendant pausing for milliseconds over Mr. Mackin as he's face down on the street, trying to shield himself. They can actually see him firing a bullet into his back."

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