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Minutes after allegedly robbing and shooting a clerk at a Salt Lake City convenience store six years ago, Marcus Lamont Crocker was laughing about it, according to testimony Thursday during a preliminary hearing.
And hours later, Crocker was "smiling" and appeared "happy" as he and others watched television news coverage of the Sunshine Food Market robbery, testified co-defendant Melissa A. Chacon.
Chacon said Crocker and another co-defendant, Julian T. Hayden, also were "giving dapp to each other," which she described as a fist-banging version of the high-five.
Chacon said that the Sept. 6, 2001, news story indicated the 24-year-old store clerk, Kang Ho Lee, had died from his wounds. Saying it was her first indiction that the shooting was fatal, Chacon said she shook her head at Crocker and left the room.
Chacon testified she had earlier argued with Crocker when he admitted shooting the clerk, even though the clerk had handed over the contents of the till. She said Crocker claimed Lee was "going for his gun."
But police say Lee did everything possible to cooperate. Store surveillance video shows Lee holding one arm up in the air, while using the other hand to give Crocker the money. Prosecutors have said the robbery netted the suspects less than $100.
Chacon, 32, is the first of three co-defendants expected to testify against 27-year-old Crocker, who is charged with capital murder. The preliminary hearing continues today before 3rd District Judge Sheila McCleve. Still slated to testify are Chacon's former best friend, Melissa Caputo, 29, and Caputo's former lover, Hayden, 26.
All three are charged with first-degree felony counts of murder, aggravated robbery and obstructing justice.
Chacon testified that she learned earlier that day that Crocker intended to rob a convenience store because he absconded from his parole on a previous robbery conviction and needed cash.
Chacon said she helped purchase clothing at a thrift store for Crocker's disguise, which included a long-sleeved shirt, bandana, beanie hat and gloves.
She then followed in her car as Caputo drove Crocker to a small store near Liberty Park. But Caputo looked inside and decided it was too crowded to rob.
Crocker indicated he wanted to "try and hit one more spot," according to Chacon, and they drove to the Sunshine Food Market, 1845 S. 700 East.
After the robbery, Chacon said, Crocker dropped the gun, wrapped in a bandana and a grocery sack, into her car.
Chacon said the weapon still smelled of "gunsmoke," which she recognized from her participation in numerous gang-related drive-by shootings.
Chacon said they then met Hayden in the parking lot of a pizza shop, to return the gun, which he had provided.
After buying a bottle of cognac at a liquor store, Chacon, Caputo and Crocker went to dinner.
After eating chicken, shrimp and ribs, Chacon said she left a $10 tip on the table, while Caputo paid the bill with a stolen check gleaned from a purse they had grabbed at a club several days earlier.
Then they drove to Caputo's home, where they watched the news. Chacon said she never got any of the robbery money.
Chacon - who is serving 30 years in state prison for her part in a 1996 murder conspiracy and is facing a consecutive 10 years for related federal racketeering convictions - said that although she has given a number of interviews to police, she has only recently begun telling the truth.
She said she decided to cooperate, in part, because she saw transcripts of police interviews with Caputo and Hayden, who are putting most of the blame for the botched robbery on her.
But defense attorney Gilbert Athay questioned Chacon's motives, asking if she would get a break from prosecutors on the pending murder and robbery charges.
Prosecutors have made no promises, but Chacon said: "Yeah, I expect something."