Sobs in court as jury sees crime scene video

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The jury is hearing dramatic witness accounts and seeing graphic evidence at the murder trial of Riccardo McCray for the City Grill murders.

Prosecutors called seven people to the witness stand on Monday, including the party promoter at the City Grill on that fateful night.

Marlando Brannon had been hosting parties at the City Grill every Friday night over a seven month period, charging people $10 admission and an additional $20 if they were wearing a hat. Brannan says he hosted the parties because he wanted to bring working class people together to have a good time and said up until that night, there had been no problems.

Emotional moments in court came when a 911 tape was played for jurors and when a police crime scene video was shown. Courtroom observers, including many victims’ family members, were sniffling and crying as the call and video played.

Prosecutor James Bargnesi said, “Videos I refer to you will see over and over.”

Bargnesi warned in his opening statement last week that several videos of the City Grill crime scene would be shown during the trial. On Monday, jurors got to see a police video entered into evidence. Heartbroken family members weeped in court as they saw the sheet-draped bodies of their loved ones, some drenched in a pool of blood.

The frantic 911 call was also played. On it, you can hear screams and more than a dozen shots fired. You hear the caller, Craig Gadley, say, “50 to 60 people were fighting. I don’t know, several people had been shot.”

We also heard from security guards. One of them claimed he saw Riccardo McCray bum-rushing another guy outside the City Grill prior to the shooting. He then said, “A bullet whistled past me. I ran back into the City Grill.” Defense attorney Joseph Terranova asked, “You were concerned about getting yourself in the club, to protect yourself?” The guard responded, “Yes.”

The defendant listened attentively throughout the testimony. His eyes were also focused on the video of the crime scene, no doubt hearing the sniffles and sobs from victims’ loved ones seated in the courtroom.

Keith Johnson was also on the stand. He was the person originally charged with the shootings at City Grill. He pointed himself out on security video, showing himself helping other people. Several other officers also testified.

Testimony wrapped up just before 5 p.m. on Monday. Testimony continues at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. If convicted, McCray faces 50 years to life in prison.