JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Testimony resumed Thursday in a highly anticipated Jacksonville murder trial, a day after opening statements, and the jury heard from three key witnesses called by prosecutors.
Many said they saw the shooter, but the defense questioned whether the description matched their client.
Jacksonville rapper Hakeem Robinson, 26, better known by his stage name “Ksoo,” and co-defendant Leroy Whitaker, 24, his cousin, are standing trial in a case that’s drawn national attention — and stirred deep tensions in the city’s rap and gang communities.
Both face murder and gun charges in the 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Charles “Lil Buck” McCormick Jr.
The first witness to take the stand Thursday was a woman who worked at a staffing agency at the Dames Pointe Plaza on Merrill Road, where McCormick Jr. was shot on January 15, 2020.
She described the moments leading up to the shooting, as McCormick left the business after receiving his job assignment and walked to his car.
“As he was leaving, there was an individual approaching. As he proceeded to walk off of the sidewalk, he recognized someone coming towards him. He looked back and turned and started to take off running,” the witness said.
Prosecutors then played the frantic 911 call made by that witness, who described a shooter wearing a black mask and skull cap running across the parking lot. She also said McCormick was lying on the ground and not moving.
“He came in for his interview, got a job. He was walking out for his job assignment. As soon as he walked out the door, this guy started shooting at him in the parking lot with a mask on. He started running. He ran on the side of my building on the sidewalk and the guy shot him, with like a shotgun. He’s down on the sidewalk not moving. What else do you need to know right now? I have bullet holes all in my window right now,” the woman told the 911 operator.
After the 911 call was played, the woman became emotional as she described the moment she walked outside and saw McCormick’s injuries.
Despite the moment of chaos, the caller said she caught a glimpse of the shooter.
“He has a mask on, he has a skull cap, he’s running across the parking lot,” she said.
Minutes later, an off-duty JSO officer, another state witness, testified he saw a silver Nissan speed away from the scene.
He followed the car, later identifying a man in all black getting out, possibly holding a rifle. But the defense said neither witness could see the shooter’s face, and questioned their descriptions.
Another woman who took the stand Thursday described finding two men standing in her Arlington home. She said they held her down and didn’t let her leave, then took clothes and a cell phone from the home before getting into a Charger-style vehicle. She described the two men as “tattoo dude” and “squirrelly dude”. She said the man with the tattoos had “1993″ tattooed on his arm.
She identified Dominique Barner, who was born in 1993 and is now a state witness, but said she never saw the other man’s face, who prosecutors say is Whitaker.
The woman said that after the men left, she ran to a neighbor for help.
Defense attorneys argued that their client, Robinson, stands well over six feet, while multiple witnesses estimated the gunman was much shorter.
Whitaker’s father was in court Thursday, as well as the families of Robinson and McCormick. McCormick’s family didn’t want to speak, but Whitaker’s father spoke on behalf of the Whitaker and Robinson families. He said in any case, he wants people to be held accountable, but he wants to see evidence.
“We are just going to wait for the outcome and see how it’s going to be. I’m going to keep my head up and my chest out,” Leroy Whitaker Sr. said.
Day 1 Testimony
Opening statements began Wednesday with the state explaining the evidence that the jury would see to consider in determining whether to find Robinson and Whitaker guilty in the case.
Assistant State Attorney Joel Cooper argued that McCormick’s affiliations with local rap groups made him Robinson’s target.
“One of the traditions of both groups is producing rap music, drill rap, diss songs, that make fun of or talk disrespectfully about members of their ops,” Cooper said. “Charles McCormick became a target, an easy target. This was about sending a message.. because not only was it personal but it’s about respect and we aren’t going to let our ops sing songs like that, not about our family… that is why Charles McCormick was targeted.”
The first witness for the state was on the stand on Wednesday. He asked not to be shown on camera. However, dash cam footage from his car showed the moment the shooting happened.
Whitaker’s attorney, Julie Schlax, argued against his involvement in the shooting, mentioning the state’s star witness, Barner, who admitted to driving the getaway car, would convince the jury that he was innocent.
“There will be no question whatsoever… Leroy Whitaker did not pull the trigger. Leroy Whitaker had nothing to do with the death of Charles McCormick. That’s what the evidence will show, “Whitaker’s attorney told the courtroom,” Schlax said.
Robinson’s attorney, Tara Kawass, turned her comments to the jury, asking them to “ignore” the descriptions that have placed Robinson as the shooter.
“Ignore the descriptions given by each and every person that saw the shooter,” she said to the jury. “Discredit them. Don’t believe them.”
Barner was mentioned during the opening statement by Kawass. She claimed that Barner was the one who planned and orchestrated the murder, not Robinson.
“When you listen to all the credible, reliable evidence in this case, it’s only going to prove to you one thing, Hakeem Robinson is innocent. Find him not guilty,” she said.
Jury selection began on Monday for the McCormick murder case as the prosecution and defense try to select two separate juries for the two defendants.
On Wednesday, three potential jurors asked to be excused. Two cited family health concerns, and one told the court she is afraid and can’t handle the pressure of a murder case of this magnitude.
The case has drawn major attention — not only because of the murders, but because of the defendants’ ties to Jacksonville’s ongoing gang violence, involving groups like ATK and KTA.
Despite those connections, prosecutors are no longer pursuing enhanced charges tied to criminal gang affiliation — a significant shift in the state’s approach.
Robinson and Whitaker were both in court on Wednesday, wearing suits.
They were attentive, watching each potential juror closely as they answered questions from Robinson’s attorney, Christopher DeCoste.
More than 50 potential jurors showed up.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson was the triggerman in McCormick’s killing.
DeCoste focused heavily on jury questions, asking how they view guns, and whether they can separate guns from entertainment and real life — possibly alluding to Robinson’s music career.
Robinson’s brother was originally set to be tried alongside him, but that’s changed. The brother’s case has been severed and will be handled separately.
RELATED | Attorney for Jacksonville rapper ‘Ksoo’ may seek civil suit due to alleged jail conditions
The case also involves a complex web of co-defendants and witness deals.
Barner took a plea deal and told investigators that Robinson wanted McCormick dead for allegedly dissing his slain half-brother, Willie Addison, who was killed in a 2019 drive-by shooting.
Hakeem’s father, Abdul Robinson Sr., was arrested and accused of helping them escape after the shooting.
In a dramatic twist, Robinson Sr. later identified his son as the shooter after viewing dashcam footage of the incident. He’s now expected to testify against his sons and nephew in court.
After the McCormick trial concludes, Hakeem Robinson will face a separate murder trial for the 2019 shooting death of 16-year-old Adrian “Lil Bibby” Gainer Jr.
