‘He told me he got shot’: Victim’s girlfriend testifies in deadly Myrtle Beach bar shooting trial

CONWAY, S.C. (WMBF) – The trial over a deadly 2021 shooting at a now-closed Myrtle Beach bar kicked off on Tuesday with opening statements.

Jermaine Gattison is charged with murder in the shooting death of 26-year-old Jas’sier Wilson.

Gattison is accused of shooting Wilson multiple times inside Donny’s Saloon in March 25, 2021. Wilson died 11 days later at the hospital.

Prosecutors and defense told jurors that this case is rare because surveillance video reveals the truth about what happened the night of the shooting.

Prosecutors said that the jury should pay close attention to the actions of everyone in the video, not just the suspect, Jermaine Gattison.

“Don’t take my word for it, watch the video. You’ll see the entire incident unfold before your eyes. You should pay very close attention to the actions and inactions of everyone on the video,” said Delbert Leasure with the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Prosecutors added that the video makes it clear that Gattison shot and killed the victim.

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Meanwhile, Gattison’s defense team said that their client acted in self-defense and he was protecting others at the bar.

Defense attorneys told jurors that Gattison and Wilson were friends and there was an argument over a girl. The defense also claims that Wilson was the one who pulled out a gun first. They said Garrison didn’t have a gun and actually grabbed a gun from someone else.

“At what point are you allowed to be a true friend? Is that when your friend gets shot at one time? That’s not enough? How about twice? Not enough. What about being pistol-whipped, being assaulted with a pistol one time?” questioned defense attorney Chaquez McCall. “We’re here today because Jermaine Gattison is a true friend.

The defense added that Wilson died several days later after having a seizure, and the prosecution can’t prove that Wilson died from the gunshot wounds.

Also during the trial on Tuesday, Wilson’s girlfriend took the stand.

She testified that Wilson almost never hung out in the Myrtle Beach area, and she was shocked when he called her and explained what had just happened at Donny’s Saloon.

“He told me he got shot and I was panicking and just asked him if he was OK and where he at,” Jamie Smith, Wilson’s girlfriend, said. “He said, ‘I’m OK, I’m OK, just come to the hospital.’ I got in my car and went straight down there.”

During her testimony, Smith also said that Wilson died after he had a seizure.

Police also arrested Hubert Durant in the case. He is also charged with murder. The 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office said Durant’s case is still open and pending.

During the investigation, authorities said four staff members at the bar did not call police or try to get the victim help. Investigators added that those four people also tried to clean up the crime scene. They were charged with obstruction of justice but all those charges were dropped during a preliminary hearing, according to the public index.

Months after the deadly shooting, the Myrtle Beach City Council permanently revoked Donny Saloon’s business license.

At that point, the bar had been listed in 24 police reports since the start of 2018, eight of which were assaults.

The defense team also told jurors that Gattison is expected to take the stand during the trial.

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