The Commonwealth rested its case Thursday on the fourth day of trial for Jorge Luis Gomez III, accused of shooting and killing Kai Carter in May 2015.

Prosecutor and Blair County First Assistant District Attorney wrapped the Commonwealth’s case with Detective Sergeant Ben Jones of the Altoona Police Department.  Jones spent all morning and part of Thursday afternoon on the stand.  His testimony mostly revolved around statements witnesses made to the police department, including the one made by Gomez.

The bare-bones statement was that Gomez got into an argument with Kai Carter and met him out back on the patio at 111 South 8th Street in Altoona.  Two other witnesses stood on the patio with them.

Gomez told police after some conversation, Carter “sucker-punched” him in the left side of the face.  Gomez said he then stumbled backward, almost down the concrete stairs of the patio that lead to the sidewalk.  He told police he caught himself and drew his weapon.

Testimony from another witness statement said Carter did not leave after that.  Instead, he stayed and once again moved aggressively toward Gomez.  That is when Gomez shot Carter.

Other testimony suggested some back and forth between the two, in a conversation that escalated, resulting in Gomez pulling out his weapon as a threat, to which Carter said he “wasn’t afraid.”

Sgt. Jones said there is no evidence that Carter had a weapon at any time.

In the courtroom, there was a lot of examination and cross-examination between the Commonwealth and the defense.  Many times, attorneys called a sidebar and spoke with the judge.  A few times, defense attorney Tom Dickey was told to sit down, to stop being theatrical, and to let the witness finish testimony without interrupting.  Presiding Judge Emily Doyle warned Dickey of expulsion at one point.

The Commonwealth rested shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday.  Court reconvened after 3 p.m. at which point the defense was permitted to call witnesses.  The defense instead rested.

Sgt. Jones was called to the stand once more by the Commonwealth to read a statement from yet another witness who testified hearing Gomez threaten if he and Carter “got in another argument, [he] would take care of it.”  During Gomez’s threat, he allegedly made a shooting gun motion with his hand.

Closing statements begin at 9 a.m. Friday morning and the jury is expected to reach a verdict.  Kai Carter’s mother says she simply wants justice for her son.

“I believe the Commonwealth is doing a very good job,” Cheryl Carter said.  “They are really fighting for justice, and that’s what I expect – justice – because my son was a good guy.  He was not a combative type of young man.”

Mrs. Carter told WTAJ News she also feels bad for Gomez’s family for also having to sit through the trial.