SAN ANTONIO – A door-to-door salesman is on trial, accused of killing a potential customer after an altercation in 2015.
The salesman, Richard Amezquita, 35, ignored signs that discouraged solicitation as he knocked on Kerry O’Toole’s door on Nov. 7, 2015.
Amezquita claims that O’Toole, 53, attacked him. He retreated to his car, took out a gun and shot O’Toole to death, authorities said.
Amezquita’s trial on murder charges began Tuesday. Prosecutors played for the jury a 911 recording of a call made after he shot O’Toole.
“He started yelling and cursing at me. And he started choking me and started hitting me,” Amezquita told the 911 operator.
Prosecutors said Amezquita shot O’Toole to death. His body was found just inside the front door of his home with a bullet hole in the glass door.
Neighbors reported hearing the shots.
“I heard three loud bangs,” Ernie Quinones testified.
Quinones said that before the shooting, Amezquita approached his home, trying to sell him a home security system.
“I guess the best way to describe it was desperate,” Quinones said. “(He was) desperate to make a sale.”
Testimony is expected to continue Wednesday in Judge Jefferson Moore’s 186th District Court. A conviction could mean life in prison for Amezquita.
--------------------------------------------------------
Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT 12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.
Sign up today. It's Free.