Hearing to finalize jury trial stipulations for shooting defendant

A hearing for the remaining defendant in the Homecoming weekend off-campus shooting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday.

Jury trial stipulations for Marc D. Griffin, 21, Chicago, may be decided during the status hearing.

Griffin is being charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm for allegedly shooting into 1514 12th St., where Eastern students and alumni were present.

During a hearing Feb. 20, a motion for joinder Griffin’s case with former co-defendant Crystal P. Lovemore, a sophomore undeclared major whose last known address is 1151 Johnson Ave., was determined “moot,” Coles County Circuit Court records said.

Lovemore was dismissed of aggravated discharge of a firearm charges in an agreement with the state’s attorney and her bond was refunded.

As part of the agreement, Lovemore’s mother, Lorna Lovemore, will testify for the prosecution.

Griffin was ordered to attend Monday’s status hearing.

Griffin and Lovemore were arrested Oct. 24 at Lincoln Avenue and Seventh St. near Domino’s Pizza after police received a report of shots fired into the 12th Street home.

The two were found in a Dodge Intrepid matching the description witnesses gave police, Charleston Police Department Detective Kevin Paddock said at a Dec. 1 hearing.

A 45-caliber Smith and Wesson was found in the vehicle at the time of arrest and Paddock said a crime scene investigator reported 45-caliber shell casings at the shooting scene.

A search on Griffin’s Firearm Owner’s Identification card listed him as the owner of a 45-caliber gun, Paddock testified.

Police reports in court dockets show occupants of the residence testified seeing Griffin and Lovemore behind the home before shots were fired.

Amral L. Johnson, junior psychology major, and Kyle E. Hill, former Eastern basketball player, Bolingbrook, told police Griffin tapped a gun on the window and said “Do you want to gun play?” moments before shots were fired.

Johnson told police he had been involved with Lovemore and during a quarrel just two nights prior to the shooting she said she had a boyfriend in Chicago with a gun.

“I can have you killed,” she reportedly said.

Lovemore, Griffin and Johnson were involved in a fight at the First Annual Johnetta Jones Memorial Step Show approximately an hour before the shooting, both Lovemore and Johnson told police.

Assistant State’s Attorney Duane Deters said in an e-mail that details for the jury trial should be set at the status hearing Monday.

Griffin’s attorney, Bernard Shelton, Chicago, said in a previous interview he and Griffin are optimistic.

“My client is looking forward to the chance to prove his innocence,” Shelton said.