The fight in the Montbello High School cafeteria was brief and it was fatal, a Denver jury was told today.
During the 22 seconds it lasted, Montbello High School student Contrell Townsend, 17, was stabbed “not once, not twice but three times” by fellow classmate Marcus Richardson, prosecutor Adrienne Greene said during opening statements in Richardson’s second-degree murder trial.
Richardson was spoiling for a fight with Townsend and wouldn’t listen to calmer voices that suggested he not confront Townsend, the prosecutor said.
Instead, Richardson, then 16, followed Townsend into the cafeteria and hunted him down, carrying a knife that he had brought to school for months, Greene said.
“He picked the place, he picked the time, he picked the means,” Greene said of the fight. The fight was allegedly sparked by an encounter earlier that day – Jan. 4, 2005 – when the two accidentally bumped in a school hallway.
But defense attorney Walter Gerash said that the fight was instigated by Townsend and several students who were members of the Blood street gang.
Gerash claimed that Townsend, who wore red-clothing and body markings showing an affiliation with the Bloods, confronted the slightly-built Richardson in the cafeteria. There, he repeatedly body-slammed Richardson while several Blood gang members flashed gang signs and warned other students not to get involved.
Richardson, who had his shirt pulled over his face and couldn’t defend himself, was sure he was about to die, Gerash contended.
As a result, he produced the knife and defended himself, the defense attorney said.
“He carried a knife but never used it until he was viciously attacked,” Gerash said. “It was a violent attack.”
Gerash described Townsend as a manic-depressive who was taking medication to help his condition. He claimed Townsend had trouble at school and that the day of the incident – the first day back after Christmas recess – Townsend had skipped morning classes.
But two prosecution witnesses, Monique McNeil, a former Montbello student, and Denver Police Officer Nelson Henry, contradicted that depiction of Townsend.
Henry, the school resource officer, described Townsend as “a very quiet student” who never caused problems.
McNeil described Townsend, who she had know for 12 years, as a young man who was “always telling jokes, making people laugh.”
McNeil said that she was in the cafeteria when she heard a bang and realized that Townsend and Richardson were involved in a “wrestling fight – grabbing each other and rolling around.”
She then saw Richardson pull out a knife and stab Townsend. She said that Townsend pushed Richardson away and swore at him. She said Townsend started to walk away but his legs gave out and he collapsed.
She said she ran to Townsend.
“He was on the ground and his eyes were open in shock,” McNeil said through sobs. “I panicked. I screamed for help.”
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
