UPDATED: 5 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Testimony began Tuesday in the murder trial of two men accused of killing a Philadelphia sanitation worker nearly three years ago.
Rasheem Trusty and Nushar Scott face first-degree murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Ikeem Johnson, 35, a city sanitation worker who was on the job on November 18, 2022 when he was gunned down near Tudor Street and Rowland Avenue around 10:30 a.m.
In their opening statements, prosecutors told jurors they would show surveillance video tracing the steps of Scott and Trusty.
Prosecutors allege the pair was seen leaving Trusty’s apartment in Northern Liberties together, and then again near the location of the killing.
They said a man wearing a surgical mask — whom they believe to be Scott — walked up to the passenger-side window of the trash truck that Johnson had just stepped out of and opened fire. Prosecutors said the shooter used two different guns and fired about two dozen times. Johnson died at the scene.
Authorities said the suspect then fled in a dark-colored Subaru. Scott was arrested a few months later, while Trusty was taken into custody nearly a year later.
Additionally, prosecutors said they had Scott’s DNA inside black latex gloves found at the scene — the victim’s DNA was also found on one of the gloves, and Scott’s DNA was on a shell casing at the scene. They said they also had cell phone records displaying back and forth calls between Trusty and Scott that morning — and that Trusty’s phone traveled to the crime scene and back.
Defense attorneys said it wasn’t enough to point to Scott or Trusty and that no one could identify their clients. Scott’s attorney also questioned the validity of the DNA evidence.
Both men pleaded not guilty on Monday. Moments before picking a jury, Trusty rejected a deal to plead to the lesser charge of third-degree murder.
The trial is expected to last through the week.