BEAVER — Opening statements began Wednesday in the case of an Aliquippa teenager accused of shooting and killing two other teens in a drug deal-turned-robbery more than a year ago.
In his statement to the jury, Assistant District Attorney Jorden Colalella introduced the case against Lawrence “Pooh Rat” Reddick Jr., 19, who is accused of shooting 18-year-old Dane Mathesius, of Brighton and New Sewickley townships, and 16-year-old William Cade Booher, of Beaver.
Colalella argued Reddick lured the teens to Aliquippa under the guise of a drug deal, all the while intending to rob them at gunpoint. Mathesius and Booher, along with a then-13-year-old, drove on the night of Sept. 29, 2016, from the Beaver area to Aliquippa to sell $140 worth of marijuana, Colalella said.
When they arrived, Reddick got into their car, pulled a gun and demanded money and drugs, he said. At that point, Reddick put a gun to Booher’s head and fired five shots, according to Colalella.
Reddick got out of the car and continued shooting, striking Mathesius in the back, he said. The 13-year-old was not shot and ran to a neighboring home to call for help.
Colalella argued Reddick planned the robbery nearly a week before the incident.
“This wasn’t a deal,” Colalella said. “It was an ambush.”
Defense attorney Kevin Kindred also presented an opening statement Wednesday and stated his client had been set up by others involved in the case.
“He is innocent of these charges,” he said.
Kindred argued that no physical evidence would be presented that will connect Reddick to the case.
The prosecution is pursuing both first- and second-degree homicide against Reddick.
Testimony began Wednesday morning.
Clayton Fennell, an Aliquippa resident, said he was running home from a friend’s house on the night of the double homicide. It was dark and raining at the time.
Fennell said he heard about six gunshots that he believed were “firecrackers.” He then saw two people running behind him. Fennell said one was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt. Based on the person’s build, Fennell said he believed it could have been Reddick or a second person.
Fennell testified he has seen Reddick around the neighborhood from time to time and knew him by his nickname, Pooh Rat. Fennell said, at the time, he had known Reddick for about a year.
Seated in the courtroom, Reddick wore a black dress shirt and his hair cut in a flat-top shape.
Co-defendant Ronald “Reno” Foster, 19, was convicted in August of conspiring with Reddick to arrange the marijuana deal with Mathesius and Booher.
After a lengthy trial, Foster was found guilty of third-degree murder and was sentenced to serve between 34 and 70 years in jail.
Testimony will continue Thursday.