Victim Chris Deberry and defendant Thomas John Eckerle Jr. are both in wheel chairs during the trial as a result of the shootings.
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Two men testified Tuesday they pleaded for their lives when two suspected robbers aimed guns at them and threatened to kill them Jan. 14 at a Rutherford Boulevard apartment.
Chris Deberry testified from a wheelchair he shot both Bruce Bell and Thomas John Eckerle when they raised their handguns toward him during a robbery inside a Campus Crossing South apartment. Eckerle, who also used a wheelchair, was accused by Deberry of returning fire.
Michael Holt testified he shot Eckerle during the same robbery inside his apartment.
Bell died at the scene. Murfreesboro Police Detective Doug Arrington charged Eckerle with two counts each of especially aggravated robbery and kidnapping of Deberry and Holt. Eckerle was also charged with possession of a weapon by a felon because he was previously convicted of aggravated assault in Florida.
After the three-hour hearing, General Sessions Court Judge Ben McFarlin ruled enough probable cause existed to show Eckerle committed the crimes. McFarlin transferred the case to the grand jury in May.
Grand jurors will determine if Eckerle should be tried on the charges.
Holt testified he and Deberry were watching a football game when Bell and Eckerle arrived. Holt took Bell into his bedroom to give him a hydrocodone painkiller he bought from a friend.
But when Assistant Public Defender Tom Frost cross-examined him, Holt testified he "snorted one line" of the illegal drug and turned to hand Bell the straw.
Bell pulled a gun that appeared to be an Uzi and bound him, Holt said.
"He said he was here to rob me," Holt said. "I didn't have any money to give."
They stepped into the kitchen where Holt tried to run but Eckerle tackled him.
"He pointed the gun at my head and dragged me to the living room," Holt said. "He had it pressed up against my head. I could feel the barrel."
Eckerle cracked his head with the gun, he said.
"I honestly felt like we were going to die," Holt said. "They were saying, 'You are going to die.'"
Deberry, 23, of Memphis testified Bell and Eckerle brought marijuana shared by the four men while watching the game. Later, he saw Holt exit his bedroom with Bell holding a gun to his head.
Eckerle threatened to shoot Deberry who pleaded for his life, along with Holt. While Eckerle tied him, Deberry said he thought he was going to die. Deberry resisted his arms being tied and jumped up with his 40-caliber handgun.
When Eckerle lifted his handgun, Deberry testified he shot him in the legs. Bell lifted his gun too.
"That's when I shot him (Bell)," Deberry said.
Deberry then shot Eckerle in the stomach. Both men exchanged fire.
"Thomas Eckerle shot me," Deberry said, explaining he suffered wounds to his leg, stomach, arm and back.
After he heard shots, Holt threw one handgun behind Deberry, picked up a second handgun and aimed it at Eckerle who reached into his hoodie for a knife.
"I shot him right through the abdomen in his left side," Holt said. "He dropped the knife."
Assistant District Attorney Tom Jackson asked if Holt was fearing for his life.
"Yes, sir, I was," Holt replied.
Frost asked who fired first.
Deberry testified he fired first at both Eckerle and Bell, who carried a gun that appeared to be an Uzi automatic.
"His gun scared me," Deberry said. "I though he was going to kill me."
Deberry doesn't believe Bell fired at him.
Arrington testified detectives recovered 13 shell casings from the apartment. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is analyzing the weapons, shell casings, white powder and pills found in the apartment.
Eckerle remains in custody while awaiting possible indictments.
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