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player ready...A Porter County jury took less than two hours Friday afternoon to deliver a guilty verdict in the murder trial of 22-year-old Lupe McGee Jr., of Merrillville, who was accused of murdering Lenell Jenkins, 22, in the parking lot of their place of employment.
He was also found guilty on a firearm enhancement.
The two men were coworkers at the Camaco seat manufacturing plant at 6515 Ameriplex Dr., Suite B, in Portage. A witness who was a coworker at the time of the shooting testified before Porter Superior Court Judge Michael Fish that drinking on the job and drinking and smoking marijuana in the parking lot after a shift were daily occurrences.
Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Kire Pavlovski told the 13 jurors the victim and defendant were hanging out with coworkers in the parking lot of Camaco after getting off the midnight shift. He said there was a verbal argument that did not last long.
Pavlovski said the two were standing face to face near the rear of McGee’s vehicle when McGee went to the door of the vehicle. “Without saying a single word, he drew a concealed handgun and fired five shots at the victim,” Pavolovski said, adding that one went through Jenkins’ throat and two hit the chest of the unarmed man, who was about to become a father in two months.
Defense attorneys Jesse and Jim Harper argued it was never in question whether McGee had shot Jenkins, but insisted it was in self-defense and that Jenkins was the aggressor.
Jim Harper told the jury it was reasonable for McGee to be afraid of Jenkins because Jenkins told him he had a gun and had been in prison. He also said the two men had shared a drink during their shift the night of the shooting.
Jim Harper told the jury Jenkins had repeatedly said, ‘Let’s blow. Let’s shoot.’” He said his client repeatedly told Jenkins he wanted to go home, put his backpack in the rear seat of the car, and was approached by Jenkins, who had his hands in his pockets.
“Lenell has persisted. Lenell has talked about getting a gun and said, ‘Let’s shoot.’ Lupe is scared that Lenell is going to shoot him.”
In the end, the jury wasn’t convinced.
Sentencing will be held June 18 in Fish’s courtroom. Murder has a maximum sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison. The firearm enhancement carries an additional sentence.
McGee’s attorney Jesse Harper said his client will take some time to consider an appeal. He said while they respect the jury’s verdict, they disagree with the result.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.