Evan Schaffer
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Last updated on Wednesday, August 15, 2018
(BEDFORD) - Testimony continued this morning in Lawrence County Superior Court I in the murder trial of 23-year-old Evan Schaffer. Judge John Plummer III is presiding.
Evan Schaffer
Schaffer is accused of murdering 25-year-old Justin Lampkins at the Bedford McDonald's drive-through during the early morning hours of April 23, 2017. Schaffer, of Orleans, is accused of confronting Lampkins in the drive-through after someone allegedly honked a horn.
Witnesses confirmed this week that there was an altercation between the two men with Schaffer reaching into the Lampkins' truck and striking him in the face. That altercation escalated with Lampkins exiting his truck with a tire knocker and confronting Schaffer. The confrontation ended with Schaffer pulling a gun and fatally shooting Lampkins in the chest.
Forensic Pathologist James Jacobi testified that Lampkins was shot once in the left upper chest.
Lampkins was leaning forward when he was shot, Dr. Jacobi testified. The bullet entered the bottom part of the heart and exited, piercing his aorta. The bullet was then lodged in the spine. Dr. Jacobi testified Lampkins died from massive blood loss.
"The bullet went through and through the heart and caused major injury to the aorta. He suffered massive hemorrhaging," Dr. Jacobi testified. "The bullet was found in the 11th vertebrae just below the breast bone. The bullet cut the spinal cord. He would have been unable to use his legs."
Dr. Jacobi also testified that according to toxicology reports, Lampinks had been drinking about two hours before he died. His blood alcohol content was at 0.089 percent. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.
Based on toxicology reports, Lampkins' urine alcohol content was 0.166, which is normally 30 percent higher than the blood alcohol content, Dr. Jacobi testified.
The defense team was able to establish through Dr. Jacobi's testimony that Lampkins had drank around 8 beers before he died.
Testimony on Tuesday from Franklin Lewis, who was driving the truck Schaffer was a passenger in, testified that Schaffer had also been drinking that day. Schaffer had drank a six pack of beer and 3/4 of a bottle of whiskey.
Dr. Jacobi testified Lampkins suffered no facial injuries when Schaffer allegedly punched him through the open truck window.
"There was no evidence of injuries to his face," Dr. Jacobi testified.
Bedford Police Detective Kye Louden testified about processing the scene after the fatal shooting.
The jury saw Lampkins' bloody clothing and Schaffer's clothing.
Detective Louden testified about the bullet casing from a 9 mm Luger, the gun Schaffer used to shoot Lampkins, found more than 16 feet from Lampkins' truck.
The jury also saw photos and drone images taken at the scene after the shooting and the wooden tire knocker Lampkins was carrying when he confronted Schaffer.
Testimony continues this afternoon with the defense cross examining Detective Louden.
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