Witness alleges Lee was shooter in fatal incident

MANSFIELD – A witness testified Friday in Richland County Common Pleas Court that Terry Lee shot and killed Charles Mathews.

Lashonda Robertson was a pivotal witness on the fourth day of Lee’s trial in front of Judge Brent Robinson.

Lee, 36, of Chicago, is charged with aggravated murder with a gun specification in connection with the Sept. 24 shooting death of Mathews, 31.

Mathews was shot while in a silver Tahoe. His vehicle rolled into the intersection of West Fourth Street and Rowland Avenue, striking a box truck.

Robertson said she witnessed the entire event. On cross-examination, defense attorney Josh Brown pointed out inconsistencies between Robertson’s testimony and previous statements she made.

About 20 people on the Mathews side of the courtroom listened intently as Robertson testified. She lives on Rowland Avenue and was driving toward West Fourth Street on the day of the incident. She said Mathews was parked in her spot in front of her house.

Robertson said a man who was a passenger in a white car had his head out of the window, trying to get Mathews’ attention.

She said the suspect demanded to know from Mathews why he said he needed to get out of town. Mathews claimed he didn’t say that.

Robertson said the white car stopped and a man walked up to the Tahoe. She identified the man as Lee during her testimony.

“The next thing I know, he reached inside the car, and they were tussling,” Robertson said. “(Lee) backed up and pulled the gun out. As soon as he pulled it out, he started firing.”

Robertson said Mathews screamed and tried to put his car in drive. She said Lee ran from the scene.

“He was about a foot away from me,” Robertson said.

She said Mathews put his car in neutral and coasted toward the box truck. Robertson said she ran to his car, where Mathews was holding his side and struggling to breathe.

On cross-examination, Brown asked Robertson about reviewing a photo array. On two occasions, she said two different people “kind of” looked like the shooter. One of the photos was of Lee.

In court, Robertson testified the shooter was wearing gray sweatpants. During the preliminary hearing in September, she said the shooter was wearing blue jeans.

“It wasn’t blue jeans; it was gray sweatpants,” Robertson said when Brown asked her.

On redirect, Robertson said she was “100 percent” sure that Lee shot Mathews. In her statement to police, she said she was 90 percent sure.

Evelyn Tyler was the final witness of the day. She said Mathews was at her house hours before the shooting. She said a white car drove slowly by the house.

Tyler did not give a statement until late last week. She said she did not come forward sooner because she had a warrant for failure to pay city income tax.

On cross-examination, Tyler said the warrant was recalled Friday.

“The state had nothing to do with that,” Assistant Prosecutor Deb Woodward said.

When the trial resumes Tuesday, the state will possibly call two more witnesses. Brown said he has not decided whether Lee will testify on his own behalf.

mcaudill@gannett.com

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Twitter: @MNJCaudill