Murder or self-defense? Trial begins in deadly 2022 family dispute

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A Bexar County jury will decide whether the 2022 shooting of 31-year-old Roger Allen was murder or an act of self-defense.

Allen’s nephew, Jcoery Smith, is on trial for Allen’s death. Prosecutors argue Smith acted on a threat while the defense maintains he was protecting himself.

On June 20, 2022, minutes after firing several shots at a home on Moon Rock near Wagner High School, Smith called 911 to report the shooting.

“I just shot my uncle,” Smith told dispatchers, according to court testimony.

Smith claimed Allen entered his home, threatened him and took one of his weapons. The two had previously worked together but had a falling out before the shooting.

Prosecutors said Allen’s wife recalled Smith making a threatening comment days earlier, which they argue he carried out.

During testimony, Bexar County prosecutor Vanessa Hutchinson said that Smith retrieved a handgun, chambered a round and shot Allen after he left the house.

However, the defense argues Smith’s story has remained consistent from the 911 call — asserting Allen was the aggressor, a detail Allen’s wife did not dispute. S

According to his wife’s testimony, Allen told her that he was going over to fight Smith.

The defense also brought up Allen’s record as a convicted felon and referred to him as “a violent person.”

Testimony will resume on Thursday morning. If convicted, Smith faces up to life in prison.

More coverage of this story on KSAT:

• Murder trial begins Wednesday for suspect accused of fatally shooting man during argument