Prosecutors said Santana, 65, snuck up on and shot 17-year-olds Javier Harrison and Devin Henderson, both of Dayton, on the night of Aug. 28, 2019, while they were trespassing in a car and smoking marijuana inside the detached garage behind his home at 848 Conners St.
Ja’shin Gibson, who was with Harrison and Henderson, testified Wednesday against Santana.
Gibson, 19 at the time of the shooting, said he thought the vehicle was abandoned in the garage, which was pitch-black, and that the trio just wanted a place to smoke pot.
“We just wanted to get high, go home,” he said.
Gibson said Santana opened the door and fired shots into the vehicle without warning.
“He didn’t say nothing at all,” he testified.
Gibson, who was not shot, said he hid underneath the car and was able to escape once Santana left.
Defense attorney Lucas Wilder said Santana was watching TV when he heard and saw people he thought were adults going through his front gate around 11 p.m. and that Santana was afraid they were going to come into his house. Santana retrieved his gun, lost sight of the people and went outside to find them.
Wilder said after Santana got to the garage, he opened a car door and found the teens inside. He said Santana didn’t know whether the individuals inside had weapons or were going to attack him.
“In that moment, fear hits him and he decides to shoot,” Wilder said.
Following Thursday night’s verdict, Wilder declined to comment.
Santana remains held in the Montgomery County Jail.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20.
Credit: MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL
Credit: MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL
