SAN ANTONIO – On Wednesday, jurors viewed body camera footage that captured the moments after Mason Lubitz fatally shot his neighbor, Trevor Beeman, on Christmas morning in 2021.
Lubitz, who is now on trial for murder, claimed he acted in self-defense.
The footage, which was shown during court proceedings, included audio of Lubitz on the balcony of his apartment saying, “I killed somebody.”
Minutes earlier, the 24-year-old Beeman had confronted Lubitz about yelling at him and his father.
Prosecutors said the confrontation then turned deadly as Lubitz shot Beeman seven times with an assault rifle.
Lubitz, who turned himself in at the scene, could be heard yelling, “He [expletive] threatening me all the time,” and demanded to be taken away quickly.
San Antonio Police Department Detective Tomas Picasso testified that Lubitz appeared “extremely scared” and was “belligerent” after the incident.
Picasso also said that Lubitz seemed intimidated by others present at the scene.
Jurors also saw the assault rifle used in the shooting for the first time. The weapon was recovered from Lubitz’s apartment following his arrest.
The medical examiner testified that three of the seven gunshot wounds Beeman sustained were fatal.
During cross-examination of the medical examiner, the defense tried to establish if the shooting was done at close range or not.
The medical examiner said she couldn’t tell just how far Lubitz was from Beeman but said the wounds were not consistent with being from very close range.
Testimony in the trial is expected to continue throughout the week with additional evidence and witnesses to be presented.
If found guilty, Lubitz faces up to life in prison.