HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A witness testified Wednesday that a gunman threatened the brother of a local city councilwoman before shooting him several times.
Jurors watched chilling surveillance video of the moments showing Prince Varner being shot, while running from the gunman.
The incident happened at the Red Zone sports bar in October 2015.
Channel 2's Tom Jones was in the Henry County courtroom Wednesday afternoon as Varner's family watched the disturbing video. Several of them became so emotional, they had to walk out of the courtroom.
Detectives said Julian Redding is the man seen firing the shots at Varner.
“It was six shots fired,” McDonough police Detective T.F. Spangenberg testified.
Redding is facing several charges, including murder.
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Prosecutors said Redding shot Varner, the brother of McDonough City Councilwoman Kamali Varner, because he thought Varner had shot his cousin the month before.
But the defense is calling the incident a case of self-defense.
Lee Sexton said Varner had threatened Redding and his family and even though security checked Varner for weapons, he said it doesn't mean he didn't go and get a gun afterward.
Vincent Berry, who is Varner's cousin, was with him at the bar that night.
“Did you ever know of Prince to carry a gun?” prosecutor Rita Lewis asked Berry.
“No ma’am,” Berry answered.
Berry said Varner did not have a gun and said Redding is the one who made threats. Berry testified that's when Varner saw Redding pull out a gun and told Redding this:
“Put down the pistol. And he just started shooting,” Berrry said.
“So Prince told him to put down gun?” Lewis asked.
“Yeah,” Berry responded.
A coroner testified that Varner was shot in buttocks and in the back as well as four other times.
Testimony is expected to resume Thursday morning.