State prosecutors to finish Thursday in Everrick Houston murder trial in Bradenton

BRADENTON -- The State Attorney's Office is expected to finish presenting evidence Thursday in the murder trial against Everrick "Jermain" Houston.

Houston is charged in the fatal shooting of a pregnant Bradenton woman and her unborn baby.

In the early morning July 12, 2009, up to three men stormed into the home Crystal Johnson, 19, shared with the father of her baby, her mother and her sister. Their spray of gunfire struck Johnson.

The father of her baby, Lawrence "L.T." Funsch returned fired and reportedly struck one of the intruders.

Johnson was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where she died. Her daughter, Lariah Faith Funsch, was delivered at 23 months in an emergency C-section but died eight hours later at All

Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Houston, 34, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and armed home invasion. If convicted, he faces life in prison since the state is not seeking the death penalty.

In November 2014, Houston's first trial ended in mistrial when the jury could not come to a unanimous decision.

On Wednesday, the State Attorney's Office called several witnesses to testify, including the investigating detectives.

Detective Stephen Ives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office testified Houston claimed he was shot while walking down the street from his cousin's house to his brother's house.

"He heard a car pull up behind him, and he was shot," Ives said. "He assumed he was Mexican because he heard him speaking Spanish."

Houston told Ives he thought he had been shot with a shotgun, but wasn't sure why someone would want to shoot him, he said.

An audio recording was played of Ives's initial conversation with Houston at the hospital while being treated. Jurors followed along with a transcript, as Houston can be heard speaking to Ives over emergency room background noise.

"He sounded Mexican," Houston said on the recording.

In 2012, Gregory "Kush" Kennon was found guilty of identical charges in the same case. He is serving a life sentence.

A possible third suspect has never been identified.

The lead detective, homicide detective Jeffrey Bliss testified he saw the fresh blood on a railing along the entrance where the suspects fled, according to witnesses. Tests matched the blood to Houston's DNA.

Houston claimed he was an innocent bystander shot by a stray bullet on his way to visit another woman after leaving his girlfriend's car at his cousin's mechanic shop.

Assistant State Attorney Art Brown asked Bliss if he was present during the execution of a search warrant at Kennon's home.

Bliss confirmed he was and said a loaded 10 mm magazine had been found in Kennon's car. Three 10 mm and two .40-caliber casings were found at the scene.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Jenna Finkelstein asked Bliss if he found any evidence linking Houston to the apartment or Kennon.

Bliss said no.

When asked if there had been any evidence indicating Houston was in possession of a firearm that evening, Bliss also responded no.

Funsch testified all he could see was gunshots the night the men stormed into the apartment.

"After you had shot back, did you hear any reaction from the individuals?" Brown asked.

Funsch said he heard one scream out in pain.

Finkelstein asked Funsch why he gave the gun to a neighbor afterward, and initially lied to police. Funsch, a convicted felon not supposed to be in possession of a firearm, said it belonged to Johnson's mother, Susan Moore.

"I was scared that it was in my possession," Funsch said.

Testimony will resume at 9 a.m. Thursday with the state expected to complete presenting its case.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 11:52 PM with the headline "State prosecutors to finish Thursday in Everrick Houston murder trial in Bradenton ."