T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Marshall County Attorney Jordan Gaffney addresses the jury during opening statements in the trial of Rocky Dean Trujillo III, who is accused of shooting and killing Michael West while attempting to rob the North Third Avenue Casey’s on Feb. 15, 2021.

Marshall County Attorney Jordan Gaffney and defense counsel Taylor Reichardt made opening statements in the trial of 22-year-old Rocky Dean Trujillo III, who faces a total of five charges including first degree murder for his alleged role in the death of 48-year-old Michael Ray West at the Third Avenue Casey’s on Feb. 15, 2021, on Wednesday morning inside of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Gaffney, who spoke first on behalf of the state, used the phrase “no hesitation” several times to describe what he saw as Trujillo’s mindset when allegedly he went into the general store donning dark clothing and a mask, brandished a gun, pointed it at West and shot him in the chest just after 3 a.m.

According to Gaffney, Trujillo then threatened a customer of the store who was waiting on a food order and stomped on his phone as West crawled back to the kitchen and the storage area, where he was ultimately found dead. After unsuccessfully attempting to gain entry into the cash register and briefly locking himself in a walk-in freezer, Trujillo then allegedly shot out the cooler door window and one of the security cameras and made his way to the parking lot, where he encountered another employee who had been in her car smoking a cigarette.

Then, Gaffney said, Trujillo and the employee engaged in hand-to-hand combat after he pointed his gun at her, and once she began to gain the upper hand, she removed his jacket as he took off down Bromley Street. She was then able to call 911 and call for help, and David Danielson of the Marshalltown Police Department attempted to administer lifesaving aid to West before he was pronounced dead.

As he wrapped up his remarks, Gaffney noted that a vape pen cartridge found in the jacket was determined by a crime lab to have Trujillo’s DNA on it, and he detailed surveillance efforts at a residence where Trujillo was staying leading up to his arrest later the same day along with the results of a search warrant where police found four rounds of ammunition and hair clippings that Gaffney alleged were part of a plan to shave his head and change his appearance.

“If you follow the evidence and the story it tells, the evidence will lead you to find him guilty,” Gaffney said.

During his remarks, Reichardt cast doubt on the story, arguing the case “makes no sense” and wondering why his client would shoot a man completely unknown to him without taking any money or merchandise in the process.

“Why would this happen, and why would he do this?” Reichardt asked.

From there, Judge John Haney moved forward into witness testimony, with the state calling one of the store employees first before the defense had the opportunity for cross examination. The trial is expected to last multiple days.

Reichardt and Chad Frese are representing Trujillo in the case, while Assistant Iowa Attorney General Susan Krisko appeared alongside Gaffney on behalf of the state. The Coliseum is being utilized for court proceedings on a temporary basis until the Marshall County Courthouse reopens.

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