Testimony Underway In Carrick Home Invasion Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- In July of 2014, neighbors awakened to the sound of gunfire at 2 a.m. on Merritt Street in Carrick.
When it ended, David Calhoun was dead and Christopher Thomas was found bleeding outside. Thomas eventually recovered, but is now on trial.
Neighbors also saw Damien Beam being taken away in cuffs, but eventually, police determined he should not be charged.
On Thursday, Beam came to the Allegheny County Courthouse to explain how and why he used a shotgun to defend himself when he responded to a knock at the door in the middle of the night.
Referring to Thomas, Beam said: "He pointed the gun at my chest and said, 'Drop everything. Give me everything you've got.' When they started bickering, I got the shotgun. He fired at me and barely missed me. When I returned fire, I hit him."
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"It was either shoot them or get shot. I have no problem with what I did," he testified.
After firing at Thomas, he claims Calhoun, who was much bigger, rushed him and tried to take the shotgun. Having shot him once, Calhoun was revived and when he went for the gun, shot Calhoun again. Calhoun died from his injuries.
But Beam says marijuana, which he sold to feed his drug habit, is to blame for much of his woes in life.
"Weed ruined my life. I got kicked off the track team in high school, I lost my scholarship, and I was selling weed when all this happened."
Thomas is on trial for charges including attempted homicide, robbery conspiracy and firearms violations.
The defense though says Beam's credibility is at issue. The jury could get the case early next week.