People v. Easley CA4/1

BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL FACTS

Hullett and Eliesha B. lived together, with their children. On October 12, 2019, the couple had a barbecue at their apartment, where there were a number of adults and children in attendance. A couple hours after the barbecue began, Easley showed up with two others, Fred and Jonicia. At some point Eliesha began physically fighting with Jonicia, inside the apartment. A few minutes after the fighting began, Eliesha went outside the apartment and jumped on Hullett. Hullett’s sister, Aleesha, then began fighting Eliesha, and Jonicia began fighting with a person named Mikala S. During the fighting, a shot was fired, and Hullett fell to the ground. Several witnesses testified they heard Easley comment that he would not let others hit his sister or that he told Hullett to stop hitting his sister immediately before the gunshot was heard. Witness Jolean W., who observed the altercations outside, testified she saw the gun in Easley’s hand, and she saw him put the gun to Hullett’s head. Witness Arturo S., who lived across the street, also observed Easley pull a gun from his waist and shoot Hullett. During a police interview, Easley denied being at the…