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Witnesses recall shooting outside Waukegan house party

A witness testified Tuesday that she saw Farid S. Rakin shoot a 24-year-old woman after she rammed her car into his outside a Waukegan house party in June 2017.

Marquita Arnett Bronson, one of 13 witnesses prosecutors plan to call at Rakin's trial, said she was standing just feet away when the 51-year-old Waukegan man shot Ciera Davis.

The shooting followed a fight at the party that spilled out to where the cars were parked, according to witness testimony Tuesday. Rakin's lawyers have indicated that they will argue that he acted in self-defense.

Shalanda Barnett, who identified herself as Rakin's niece, testified Rakin was at the house party with a woman named Nicole. Barnett said Davis and Nicole got into a fight and had to be separated.

Barnett said even after the fight had been broken up Davis remained hostile. Outside, Davis started attacking Rakin's vehicle, Barnett testified.

Barnett said she wrestled Davis to the ground and was able to take away a set of keys. When Barnett walked away to retrieve an asthma inhaler from her car, she heard Davis slam her SUV into Rakin's vehicle.

"She must have had an extra set of keys in the ashtray or something," Barnett said.

Barnett said she started her vehicle and was about to drive over to the house and retrieve Davis when she heard gunshots.

Bronson testified that she saw Davis ram her SUV into Rakin's car. She said Rakin ran over to Davis and tried to get her to stop. Bronson said Rakin went in the house and came back out. She said he pulled out a gun and began firing at Davis' car.

The trial will continue Wednesday.

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