JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man accused of a deadly shooting at a Baldwin truck stop took the stand Wednesday in his own defense, claiming he acted in self-defense during what he described as an “attempted hijacking.”
Leroy Edwards faces life in prison in 2019 and is accused of shooting two co-workers at the Pilot truck stop, killing Todd Phillips and wounding Joseph Parcell.
Authorities say officers exchanged gunfire with Edwards and took him into custody.
During the second day of testimony, Edwards, who faces life in prison, denied any involvement in Phillips’ death.
“I had nothing to do with that guy’s death. I didn’t even know about it,” he said in court on Wednesday.
However, in Parcell’s case, Edward said he shot him in self-defense.
“That guy, if he’s the same guy that came up from the rear of the trailer and threatened to kill me. I don’t know who it was,” Edwards said." But that guy made the threat first. He was going to kill me, and he was looking for the gun. When I seen what he was looking at, I beat him to it and I shot him."
Prosecutors also said Edwards then stole the company’s 18-wheeler and led officers on a chase onto Interstate 10. When asked about it in court, Edwards said he was unaware of any police presence.
“I couldn’t hear a siren; the generator was running. I didn’t hear no sirens, couldn’t see no lights or anything. The only light that I saw was the yellow amber light and I’m thinking it was a construction worker,” Edwards said on the stand.
Jacksonville attorney Gene Nichols, who is not associated with the case, believes the prosecution has presented a strong case against Edwards.
“With the charges that he has right now, he’s facing life in prison. And so there’s not much to be able to argue, even if there’s a tremendous amount of mitigation,” Nichols said. “But that mitigation doesn’t come into a defense in trial. It’s only going to come into play potentially at a sentencing hearing.”
Nichols anticipated mental health considerations from the defense would play a significant role during sentencing.
They’ll do everything they can to try and portray that Mr. Edwards did not have the mental capacity and was clearly suffering from mental health problems when he committed some very serious crimes,” he said.
Closing arguments concluded on Wednesday. The jury will begin deliberations on Thursday, which Nichols anticipated a quick verdict.