PITTSTON — “Here’s the gun. I got him.”

Multiple witnesses called to testify Wednesday all remembered Stephen Jamal Spencer saying that after he allegedly shot and killed 32-year-old Christopher Williams of Pittston.

Spencer, 30, appeared before District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz for a preliminary hearing on a homicide charge for the shooting July 9 outside Saints & Sinners Irish Pub.

Testimony pointed to racial tension in the bar that night — Spencer is a black man — and one witness said she heard a racial slur being shouted.

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That same witness said when she went to Christopher’s aid after he was shot, Spencer pointed a gun at her face.

Marty Williams, 32, of Pittston, testified he was with cousin Christopher at the bar when he declined to shake Spencer’s hand, which witnesses said was the origin of the dispute.

Marty testified he was then approached by another man with Spencer, who asked why Marty declined the handshake.

“I don’t socialize with anybody not my race,” Marty said in court.

While Marty described the encounter as calm, his girlfriend, Alaena Swingle, told a different story.

Swingle, 34, testified Spencer actually stood closely to her before the handshake incident occurred. A friend of hers had to tell Spencer to move.

Swingle also said Spencer’s friend appeared angry when he confronted Marty about the handshake rejection.

And while Marty testified there were no harsh words or racial slurs heard in the bar, Swingle again told a different story.

She testified she heard a racial slur being yelled by someone in the bar before Spencer initially got closer to her. When asked by defense attorney John Pike if Christopher had at one point claimed to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan, both Marty and Swingle denied it.

Marty and Swingle also denied Spencer was ever harassed, blocked from leaving the bar, or followed when he left the bar.

Marty, Christopher, and Swingle attempted to leave for the evening with Christoper walking slightly ahead of them when he was shot, according to police. Ptlm. Samuel DeSimone of the Pittston City Police Department learned during the course of the investigation that Christopher, Marty, and Swingle exited the bar’s “Saints” exit, while Spencer and a man he was with left through the bar’s “Sinners” exit.

Simone added that while the Center Street bar has a video surveillance system, it was not functioning that night.

Marty and Swingle each testified hearing a popping noise, then seeing Christopher drop to the ground.

“It looked like somebody just picked him up and just dropped him,” Swingle said.

Marty said his cousin told him he couldn’t breathe, and asked for an ambulance.

Swingle held Christopher and said she tried talking to him to keep him awake. She testified when she looked up, she saw Spencer pointing the gun at her face. She said Spencer then yelled at her to leave him alone, or that he would shoot her.

Christopher was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. DeSimone said the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest.

‘Classic self-defense issue’

After Wednesday’s hearing, the judge sent Spencer’s charges to county court.

Pike maintained his client acted in self-defense, and added more details would come out in later court stages.

“He retreated, he defended himself, the police arrived … he surrendered his gun, he was fully compliant, and acknowledged what he did,” Pike said, added that his client had a valid permit to carry a firearm. “This is setting up to be almost a classic self-defense issue.”

Prosecutor Thomas Hogans disagreed.

“At this point, through the investigation, we don’t have any evidence of that,” he said.

Spencer, of Pittston, remains jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. He was denied bail due to the homicide charge he’s facing.

The courtroom was filled with family for both Williams and Spencer.

The defendant took a moment to acknowledge his loved ones as he was brought into the courtroom.

“Love y’all,” he said as he was led to his seat.

Family members on both sides cried at various points throughout the hearing.

Homicide suspect Stephen Spencer leaves district court Wednesday after his preliminary hearing for the fatal shooting of Christopher Williams outside Saints & Sinners Irish Pub in Pittston earlier this month. The charges against Spencer were sent to county court.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL071917Spencer-3.jpg.optimal.jpgHomicide suspect Stephen Spencer leaves district court Wednesday after his preliminary hearing for the fatal shooting of Christopher Williams outside Saints & Sinners Irish Pub in Pittston earlier this month. The charges against Spencer were sent to county court.
Pittston shooting suspect claims self-defense

By Travis Kellar

tkellar@timesleader.com

Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews