Triple murder case continues in Springfield

A Jacksonville man and former cellmate of Morgan County's Joseph Hembrough, who pleaded guilty in 2021 in a triple murder case in Springfield's Harvard Park neighborhood, testified before a Sangamon County jury Monday that Hembrough told him certain details about the shooting and robbery, including that he left his handgun magazine in the house where the shooting occurred.

On the witness stand, Michael S. Pullings admitted that he had told a Springfield detective that Hembrough “might be lying” and that Hembrough had used racial slurs against one of the two men accused of the murders, Kelton Galmore of Jacksonville.

The murder trial of Galmore and Larry McClain Jr. of Springfield has entered its second week, and the state has called witnesses.

More:One of three suspects pleads guilty in 2021 Springfield triple murder

They included Tannya Martin, McClain's former girlfriend, and Det. Ryan Maddox of the Springfield Police Department, the lead investigator on the case.

Savante English, 27, and Keyera Gant, 25, of Springfield, and Bryant K. Williams, 27, of Houston, Texas, were shot and killed in a home in the 2500 block of South 10th Street on August 9, 2021.

Hembrough pleaded guilty on the eve of trial and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He testified against Galmore and McClain on Friday, saying that although he was present and had a gun, he did not shoot any of the victims.

The three had gone to the house on 10th Street to buy drugs.

Pullings, who has a criminal record in Morgan County, was a surprise witness and the subject of a public discussion before taking the stand.

Special Prosecutor Derek Dion pointed out that Galmore and McClain's defense attorneys, Monroe McWard and Mark Wykoff, called Hembrough an “opportunist” and a “liar” during his testimony on Friday.

“We should be able to restore that,” Dion told District Court Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin.

Pullings shared a cell with Hembrough, who was originally arrested for theft in October 2021. During a search of Hembrough's home, Morgan County detectives found firearms, including a Polymer 80, commonly known as a “ghost gun.”

Pullings said Hembrough threatened to kill him if he told anyone the details of the case he had told him. Pullings testified he had known Hembrough since he was a child.

Hembrough told Pullings he accidentally left the magazine or clip at the crime scene. Pullings said Hembrough was concerned about that.

“(Hembrough) showed me how to let go of the magazine,” Pullings told prosecutor Meghan McCarthy during re-examination. “He dropped the magazine. He didn't want to lose it.”

Hembrough told police in an October 2021 interview that he would not get the clip back, but later testified that it was his.

Maddox said the magazine was fully loaded and none of the live rounds matched any of the 22 shell casings found at the scene.

Under cross-examination, McWard reminded Pullings that he had described the weapon as “an Uzi.”

More:Defendant who pleaded guilty to triple murder in Springfield testifies about crime scene in house

Pullings also told McWard that Hembrough referred to Galmore as a “n**s,” although he also used the derogatory word “n****r.” Pullings told Maddox about Hembrough's verbal abuse.

Miller testified that he made comments to her around McClain's birthday on December 13, 2021, about his involvement in a robbery, but she said he did not provide any details.

Miller, who lived with McClain, said he “regretted it” and cried.

Maddox initially told Hembrough that he was not present at the shooting and robbery, but that only Galmore and McClain were there.

In an interview on February 22, 2022, Maddox said, Hembrough admitted he was there and armed.

The state also played clips of outgoing calls from the Sangamon County Jail in which Galmore spoke of McClain “taking responsibility” and “accepting his accountability,” meaning he must take responsibility for what happened.

Triple murder case continues in Springfield

You may also like...

Recent Posts

Triple murder case continues in Springfield

You may also like...

DEA reports on drug trafficking crisis in Western Washington

Consider this from NPR: NPR

“A lot will depend on Trubin” (September 10, 2024) — dynamo.kiev.ua

Recent Posts