RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – The former Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) hospital employee accused of killing a coworker during a fight in a VCU Medical Center stairwell took the stand Wednesday in his murder trial.
The defense team of Christopher Boisseau, who faces first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Ty’Quan White, called him and another witness to the stand before Wednesday morning’s recess.
Police said Boisseau and White were arguing in a stairwell of the VCU Medical Center North Hospital before the shooting. White, a Richmond resident, was 25.
Boisseau is facing charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Boisseau has pleaded not guilty and claimed self-defense in the shooting, telling jurors Wednesday that White reached for his pocket where he was holding his gun, according to 8News reporter Rolynn Wilson, who is in the courtroom.
On Tuesday, Boisseau’s defense claimed White started the fight and that Boisseau feared for his life and used his gun in self-defense.
In Wednesday’s closing arguments, prosecutors said White was “killed over nothing.” Prosecutors said that hospitals are meant to be safe spaces and that VCU Medical Center’s policy against guns, which Boisseau said he was unaware of, was clear before the shooting.
Prosecutors also claimed that the argument between Boisseau and White started over a trash assignment and that Boisseau kept his gun on him the entire night.
The defense closed by claiming that Boisseau tried to de-escalate the argument eight times and that there was overwhelming evidence showing he was acting in self-defense. They also added that Boisseau has an eighth-grade education, describing him as nonconfrontational.
The jury will begin deliberating after a lunch break, according to Wilson. Jurors will consider whether Boisseau was acting in self-defense in the shooting death of White.
8News reporter Rolynn Wilson contributed to this report.
