May trial for suspect in Middletown fatal shooting continued

A May trial for a man accused of shooting and killing a teen in December in Middletown has been continued.

Mezahn Demarco Amison, 21, of Manchester Avenue, is facing charges of murder and felonious assault for allegedly killing Zachariah Wallace, 17, on Dec. 6. A hearing was held Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court. It was slated to consider issues raised by the defense with Amison’s statements to Middletown police.

But Judge Jennifer McElfresh canceled the scheduled May 11 trial, citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

“The court believes it would be difficult to seat a jury at this time,” she said, noting social distancing issues and the ability of the jurors to see and hear witnesses wearing masks.

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Attorneys will be back in court on May 11 to set a new trial date.

Amison remains housed in the county jail in lieu of $1 million bond set by McElfresh.

A document filed by prosecutors lists evidence in the case and says 19 witnesses, mostly police officers, may be called at trial. Three interviews with people — including one with Amison — Facebook photos and Sprint cell phone records are among the evidence listed.

Middletown police arrested Amison within hours of the shooting that happened just before 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and charged him with murder and tampering with evidence in Wallace’s death.

Middletown Police Maj. Scott Reeve said the shooting was the result of an “ongoing conflict” between Wallace and Amison.

Amison saw Wallace walking on Manchester Avenue, got out of a vehicle and “shot (Wallace) five times, causing his death,” according to court documents.

Amison drove to Trenton, where officers found him on Mars Drive.

MORE: Middletown Police: Casper Avenue shooting result of ‘ongoing conflict’

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