Testimony continues in the trial of a man accused of killing two people near a parade route in Jackson

The first witnesses took the stand on Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of killing two people near the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Paddy’s at Hal’s in 2023. Jordan Cummins, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of 27-year-old Joshua Spann and 23-year-old Auden Simpkins. During opening statements, prosecutors and the defense outlined what jurors could expect. The jury was seated on Monday. Capitol Police say Cummins accidentally fired into a crowd along the parade route near Amite and Jefferson streets on March 25, 2023, in downtown Jackson. Cummins’ attorney said he acted in self-defense. “Jordan looks forward to presenting his side of the story to the jury,” said defense attorney Bill Kellums. “I think there will be a lot of things that people didn’t know, and I think it will change a lot of opinions.” Prosecutors told Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Faye Peterson they had a long list of more than 40 witnesses they planned to call to testify. Kellums said they plan to call only two witnesses. Ty Parker, a criminal investigator with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, testified Tuesday about evidence she collected at the scene, including bullet fragments. Prosecutors also showed the jury photos of the victims taken after the shooting.