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Suspect in fatal Wyoming shooting knew victim

Posted at 11:11 PM, Mar 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-11 15:51:07-05

WYOMING, Mich. -- On Wednesday, testimony took place in the case against a pair of teenagers facing open murder charges in the death of 17-year-old Isaiah Blue.

The Kelloggsville high school student was gunned down during an attempted armed robbery Jan. 27 in Wyoming.

Nineteen-year- Mitchell Savickas and 16-year-old Daniel Benavides are facing felony murder, open murder, and armed robbery charges in connection with the case.

Police say Blue and some friends left a bus near 44th Street and Rhodes Avenue on Jan. 27 and were followed by Savickas, Benavides and another 15-year-old suspect.

The 15-year-old, who faces an armed robbery charge in the case, took the stand against his two defendants Wednesday.

It was testimony that revealed Savickas knew the teenager he's accused of killing.

The 15-year-old claimed that Savickas came up with an idea as they exited the bus with Blue and his two friends. Savickas said they should follow Blue and his friends to see what they were getting up to that night.

There was no discussion of a robbery beforehand, according to the 15-year-old.

"I told him before he pulled it [the gun] out, not to pulled it out, because it's too hot on 44th," said thee 15-year-old.

Savickas allegedly told them "you already know," pointed the gun at Blue and told them to empty their pockets.  Isaiah and his friends Jeremiah Garel and Malik Mack backed up.

Jeremiah Garel said he and Blue ran in the same direction, until he realized Blue wasn't behind him anymore. Malik Mack found him on the ground.

"I flipped him over and I was on the sidewalk with him and he said, 'I love you, bro' and a tear drop came out of my eye," Mack said.

The 15-year-old co-defendant said Savickas didn't take a thing from Isaiah after shooting him and later asked the alleged shooter why he did it. He said Savickas told him he reportedly shot Isaiah because he started to run.

Savickas' girlfriend also took the stand and testified she picked him up at 2:30 a.m. for work the next day.  She asked him if Savickas was involved in the shooting, and testified Savickas told her it wasn't a big deal and he shot someone in the shoulder.