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Trial opens for man accused of killing son, mother in 2016

A jury trial opened Monday in Lycoming County Court for a city man charged with homicide and accused in the shooting deaths of a mother and her son in a Poplar Street residence on Halloween night in 2016.

Jordan A. Rawls, 27, faces charges of two counts of homicide. He also is charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, person not to possess or use a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a weapon, according to Martin Wade, county first assistant district attorney.

Rawls was charged by city police Agent Trent Peacock of shooting Shane Wright, 25, who died instantly, and Kristine Kibler, Wright’s mother, who later died.

Rawls, Joseph S. Coleman, 37, who was convicted of second degree murder by a county jury last month in the case, and Casey Wilson, 22, went to Wright’s apartment to rob of him of cash, 3 pounds of marijuana and pills at 9:45 p.m. after the city’s annual Trick or Treat, Wade said.

“Evidence will show Rawls shot Kibler and Wright,” Wade said in opening remarks.

Rawls gave a partial confession, Wade said, adding for the jurors to fully convict they had to determine the extent of Rawls’ involvement.

Wilson, who Wade considered to be a key witness, pled guilty to third degree murder for his role in the shooting Wilson is on target to receive a sentence of 25 to 57 years, and avoids a life sentence, Wade said.

Wilson would testify that while waiting in a car at the scene, he saw Coleman running toward the car and heard several shots and then saw Rawls exiting the residence, Wade said.

Video surveillance at two businesses before the robbery and shooting showed Rawls first wearing a gray hat and then at a second business a black hat that pulled down over his face as a ski mask during the robbery and shooting, Wade said.

The gun was tossed away near Hepburn Street and the clothes the men used were put into Lycoming Creek, near the river, Wade said.

Wade admitted to jurors that Wilson was “damaged goods” in terms of a witness, because of his criminal history, but said cellphone calls traced by police indicated Rawls and Coleman spoke up to 50 times a day and that Rawls contacted Coleman on the day of the shooting.

Ballistics tests also match ammunition found in Rawls apartment by police on Nov. 9. “Stamps on the casings are identical,” Wade said.

Edward J. Rymsza, Rawls’ attorney, in his opening remarks said the evidence to be presented does not mean the prosecution has proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof the law demands.

Wilson, who was immediately taken into custody, implicated Rawls as the shooter, Rymsza said.

But, when Rawls noticed his name on social media, he and his girlfriend voluntarily went to the police at City Hall, Rymsza said.

“You will see and hear denials and see police tactics,” Rymsza said.

Wilson testified that he picked up Rawls that afternoon. Wilson said Wright was known as a marijuana dealer.

Several city police officers testified. Police said five minutes after dispatch that they encountered Rawls’ body on the threshold of the front of the Poplar Street apartment and found Kibler struggling to breathe at the top of the stairs.

Three frightened young children were removed from the residence, which police processed as a crime scene.

Officer Joseph Ananea, a crime scene investigator testified he was at the shooting scene from midnight to 7 a.m., collecting evidence. Wright’s pants pockets were turned inside out, indicative of a robbery or attempt, according to a slide of the shooting scene.

Ananea further testified to police removing a live 9 mm cartridge found on the carpet of a residence in the 1000 block of Race Street on Nov. 9.

The bullet was made by the same manufacturer of the spent cartridge found at Poplar Street by police, the officer testified.

Ananea also said police seized a belt, belt buckle, and two yellow cards, which were in the bedroom closet.

The cards had the name Richard Rawls on them, Ananea said.

Other items considered to be evidence for the case were collected, sealed and opened for jurors to see.

A car, believed by police to be the one that took the three men to the robbery, also was processed for fingerprints.

Judge Nancy L. Butts presides over the four- to five-day trial, which continues this morning.

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