Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of a 20-year-old man accused of fatally shooting two people at a Normal apartment two years ago.
Christopher Harrison of Normal is accused of fatally shooting Joseph F. Gardner, 20, and Reginald Hart Jr., 19, both from Bloomington, in April 2018 at the Normal apartment complex where Harrison lived. Prosecutors said Harrison had an AR-15, a Beretta 9 mm handgun, and a Remington 780 shotgun, plus ammo. He was 17 at the time.
His murder trial will be the first in McLean County since the coronavirus shutdown began to lift. Instead of a regular courtroom, Harrison’s trial will take place in the larger, reorganized jury assembly room at the McLean County Law and Justice Center in downtown Bloomington. Juror chairs are placed 6 feet apart. Those entering the courthouse were required to wear masks and go through a touchless temperature scanner. Masks will be allowed but not required inside the courtroom itself.
Harrison is expected to argue self-defense. Gardner and Hart were going to visit Harrison at Lancaster Heights apartments the night of their deaths. One of Gardner’s acquaintances told police they went to Harrison’s apartment about a “drug debt” and that Harrison had threatened to shoot him over it, court records show.
Prior to the trial, Harrison pleaded guilty to seven charges related to the incident, including gun and drug counts. He has yet to be sentenced on those charges.
If convicted on the murder charges, Harrison could face life in prison.
The state is represented by prosecutors Jeff Horve and David Fitt. Harrison’s defense attorney is Kevin Sanborn.
Opening statements and the first witnesses are expected Tuesday.
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