Was it murder or self-defense?

No one disputes the tragic end result of Daniel Vargas' Nov. 5, 2006, late-evening run-in with Anthony Brown.

Vargas, a total stranger to Brown, fatally shot the teen.

But it will be up to a jury this week to determine if the act was cold-blooded, first-degree murder, or gunshots fired in self-defense.

Attorneys argued both angles Tuesday, the first day of Vargas' trial. The 21-year-old, of 424 Aldine Ave. in Elgin, is charged with shooting Brown multiple times at a Streamwood house hours after a drug deal involving one of Brown's friends went awry.

In his opening remarks, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Gerber painted Brown -- a straight-A Streamwood High School senior, according to his grandfather -- as a "hero" who held Vargas back that night to keep him from going into his friend's house.

Defense attorney Jonathan Minkus said Brown, who witnesses say stood a foot taller than Vargas, intimidated Vargas, striking him in the face. It was only then, Minkus said, that Vargas pulled out the gun and fired in self-defense.

"Daniel Vargas," Minkus told the jury and a packed Rolling Meadows courtroom, "is absolutely not guilty of first-degree murder."

Some of the prosecution's witnesses Tuesday suggested otherwise. About a dozen in all testified, including police officers who'd been at the scene and the doctor who performed emergency surgery on Brown afterward.

Brothers Joseph and Michael Benitez, whose house was the scene of the crime, also took the stand, recounting the night as they saw it.

Joseph Benitez, 17, said he had met up with Vargas and David Luna -- another Elgin man, who's also been charged but is being tried separately -- the afternoon of Nov. 5, 2006, to deliver the duo a half-pound of marijuana in exchange for $2,000. He took their money but never bought them the drugs, Benitez testified, instead returning to his Streamwood home.

Luna and Vargas, he said, arrived there later in the evening. He and Brown, a longtime friend, were out back.

When he went to talk to the two men, Joseph Benitez said Vargas got out of the car and pointed a gun, holding it with a sock, waving it and telling him he wanted his money.

Vargas put the gun away when told to calm down, Joseph Benitez acknowledged, but then ran into the garage, where Brown -- who had no role in the drug deal -- tried to stop him, putting his arms around him in a bear hug.

Joseph Benitez said he never saw Brown hit Vargas. But Michael Benitez, 21, who said he'd come out of the house when alerted by Brown that something was amiss, said Brown grabbed Vargas' shoulders and pulled him forward, hitting him with his hand in the side of the face.

Both brothers said they then heard several shots, fired at Brown at close range and in rapid succession.

Both also said Vargas then shot at Michael Benitez while running toward Luna and the car.

Vargas missed, but Michael Benitez said Vargas told him, "You're going to die, too."

Vargas and Luna fled, according to witness testimony, leading police on a chase before crashing their car. Vargas ran away from the crash but was arrested the next day.

Brown, who was still alive after the bullets hit him, was lying face-down on the front lawn when help arrived, according to testimony from a Streamwood paramedic, who also said Brown had a weak pulse and labored breathing.

He'd lost two liters of blood and was in shock when he arrived at the hospital, a doctor testified. His heart never recovered.

Vargas sat through the first day of the trial wearing a suit and taking notes. Both Benitez brothers said they'd never known Vargas until the day of the crime.

Prosecutors have said his rap sheet includes myriad arrests, including battery, disorderly conduct, burglary and aggravated assault.

The trial is scheduled to resume today at 10:30 a.m.