‘I was scared for my life.’ Murder suspect testifies in his own trial, jurors deliberate
A Fayette County jury has acquitted Jacouri Burns, 26, of a murder charge, ruling that he was justified in shooting and killing 22-year-old Lonnie Oxendine during a fight outside the Lexington City Center.
The jury found Burns not guilty after hearing testimony from responding officers, Oxendine’s family members and Burns himself.
Burns told a jury Wednesday he feared for his life on the night of Jan. 31, 2021, when he fatally shot and killed Lonnie Oxendine, 22.
On Wednesday, Burns gave his version of events in front of the jurors who will decide whether or not to convict him of murder. Burns’ trial started this week and jurors went into deliberations Thursday afternoon. He described the altercation between himself and Oxendine which began the night before the shooting.
Burns maintains that he shot in self-defense because he thought he would be killed otherwise. Prosecutors have argued that Burns wasn’t justified in opening fire and “in essence brought a gun to a fist fight.”
Attorneys gave closing arguments Thursday before the jury deliberated.
Burns describes disagreement between himself, Oxendine
In events leading up to the shooting, Burns described a party he was hosting on Jan. 30, 2021, at Manchester Music Hall as a promoter for a final event before his graduation from Kentucky State University.
He said this event was expected to be similar to previous ones he had hosted along with Chris Nelson, his best friend who was also a promoter for the parties. However, joining them in promotions that night was a man named Anthony Clark.
Burns explained this event was set to take place at the Lexington music venue. He had to convince the venue owner to let him hold the party at this location.
He told the jury the owner was apprehensive about the performance taking place at the music hall, but Burns guaranteed her they were only allowing performers they had at previous events and would provide additional security.
But that security fell through, Burns said. Burns also said Clark took it upon himself to sell a $900 VIP section to Oxendine and allow Oxendine to perform. Oxendine was a rapper who performed under the name “ATM Grinda.”
Burns and Nelson both testified Wednesday they were unhappy with Oxendine’s presence, as was the venue owner. Burns said the owner threatened to shut the show down as cops were already outside due to other issues in the area.
Burns and Nelson said they assured the owner they’d take care of the venue, and it would “not be disrespected.”
Burns said when the event opened, Oxendine’s group tried to “bombard” the door, and said they didn’t have to go through security checkpoints because they were performers. Later, Burns said, two guns were found on members of Oxendine’s group, who were sent back to their cars.
Burns also said Oxendine’s group kept trying to smoke in the venue which was strictly non-smoking. When security said they could not smoke, Burns said, “some people complied, some people didn’t.”
He said when the party was eventually broken up, Oxendine confronted him. Burns said Oxendine began threatening him and demanding his $900 back since he and others were not able to perform that night.
Burns recalled Oxendine saying he was going to find the promoters and workers at Kentucky State University, knew where their dorms were, and “was going to get his money back one way or the other.”
He and Nelson said they continued to hear threats being made outside of the venue, that “they would get their money back,” and would find them at KSU. Burns said he and the other promoters were escorted back outside by police and later returned home.
“I was nervous about the things he said,” Burns said. “The event was a failure. I wasn’t too upset, because sometimes in this industry, you have losses.”
‘I was scared. This is a threat and it is getting worse.’
Burns said when he awoke the next morning, he found threatening messages on his Snapchat, which included, “This is my only time reaching out, or I will come to K-State.” Another read, “(Expletive) will die about my respect, I don’t play games,” and “Bring your biggest guns.”
One message said the sender paid $900 for a section and wanted their money back. Burns said that is how he knew the messages came from Oxendine, because he was one of two people that paid for a $900 section, the other being a female.
“I am thinking, ‘this man is mad, he wants his money back,’” Burns said. “I was scared. This is a threat and it is getting worse.”
However, Burns replied only with his cell phone number, and said, “I sent that so they could call me over the phone and we could talk about it.”
Burns continued with his plans of the day to meet with a rapper named “Allstar Jr.,” who was scheduled to be a headliner at the event the night before. Burns said he and Allstar Jr. had plans to shoot a promotional video at the Marriott hotel downtown.
That same day, Allstar Jr. had plans to shoot a music video with Oxendine at the Marriott. Burns said he had no knowledge that Oxendine would be at the hotel, or that he was also going to meet with Allstar Jr.
Burns showed up to the hotel around 5 p.m. on Jan. 31. Video footage showed Burns appear at the hotel and pull his car into the courtyard and parked it. He is shown going inside the lobby where he claimed he was looking for Allstar Jr.
As shown on video footage, Burns said he walked into the lobby and saw two cameramen he recognized from the night before. He asked if they knew where Allstar Jr. was. Before he could get to him, Burns said Oxendine stood between them and asked where the money was from the previous night.
“I told him he would have to call (Clark), and he would be able to get him the money back,” Burns said. “He kept saying, ‘I don’t play about my money,’ and ‘I know where you live.’ I tried to call (Clark) for (Oxendine) so he could figure it out.”
As they walked out of the lobby together in the video footage, Burns said he was telling Oxendine, “I don’t have your money.” Once outside, Burns said Oxendine told him, “if you don’t pull my money out of your pockets right now, I got my shooters right here,” motioning to a man to his right.
Burns said Oxendine was motioning to Marlin Vines, who was off to the right.
Security footage shows Oxendine hit Burns twice in the face.
Burns said in court that he heard them yelling, “Don’t let him get away,” and “Shoot, shoot, shoot.”
“They were running after me, and I was scared for my life,” he said. “I am thinking he is going to do what he said he is going to do.”
‘A year and a half later, I feel bad about the situation’
Footage shows Burns pulling a gun and firing four shots. Three were at Oxendine, and one was at Marlin Vines, who was running behind the vehicle.
After he shot, Burns is shown getting into his Jaguar with his cousin and driving off.
“A year and a half later, I feel bad about the situation. Seeing that, if I didn’t do what I did on that day, I wouldn’t be here,” Burns said.
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 12:59 PM.
