Confession played during murder trial

In a taped interview with police investigators, a tearful Daniel Vargas admits he shot Anthony Brown in during a "scuffle" with the teen, but he claims it happened so quickly he didn't know how many shots he fired or even if he'd hit Brown.

Afterward, he said, he sped off in a car with a friend and was so shaken "I didn't really say anything," he told the police. "I couldn't believed this (expletive) happened."

The video, played to jurors Wednesday in the second day of Vargas' murder trial, also shows the 21-year-old Elgin man repeatedly voicing fears about ending up in prison.

"I just never thought this would be the outcome (of that night)," he insists to police.

The videotaped statement ended the prosecution's line of evidence. Vargas' attorney also rested his case after the tape was played, choosing to call no witnesses of his own.

Vargas, of 424 N. Aldine Ave., is charged with shooting Brown several times Nov. 5, 2006, at the Streamwood home of Brown's friend.

The shooting came hours after a botched drug deal in which Brown had played no role, witnesses testified.

Prosecutors said Brown was an innocent man that night -- fatally shot as he heroically held Vargas back from going into his friend's home. Vargas' attorney argues his client fired the gun in self-defense after Brown intimidated him.

Vargas was the only one armed, witnesses have said.

According to testimony, Vargas and David Luna, another Elgin man who will be tried separately, met up with 16-year-old Joseph Benitez earlier in the day and handed over about $2,000 for marijuana. Benitez took the cash but never got the drugs, according to court testimony.

When Vargas and Luna showed up at Benitez's Streamwood house later that night demanding their money, Brown was there, too.

Benitez testified that Vargas waved a .22-caliber pistol. He also said Brown, who was near the door, later grabbed Vargas in somewhat of a bear hug to keep him from going inside.

It was in the course of that contact that the fatal shots were fired, witnesses said.

Three hit Brown; two of them perforated a lung. He died hours later at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

The doctor who performed the autopsy took the stand Wednesday and verified at least two of the shots were fired at extremely close range.

In the videotape, Vargas says the gun was Luna's and says he can't describe it other than to say it "fit in my hand." He says he'd had the gun in his coat pocket when things "escalated."

Vargas told police Brown grabbed him, pulled him forward and punched him.

Another witness -- Joseph Benitez's brother, Michael -- gave a similar account, but Joseph Benitez testified he never saw Brown hit Vargas.

Vargas also faces attempted murder charges on allegations he fired extra shots at Michael Benitez. He wasn't hit.

Outside the packed Rolling Meadows courtroom, some of Brown's family members said Wednesday they feel no animosity toward the Benitez family for what happened.

Anthony Brown's father, Mark, also said no penalty handed out to Vargas, no matter how harsh, will be able to bring back his son.

Closing arguments in the trial are set to begin at 10:30 a.m. today in Rolling Meadows, before Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta Jr.