Man on Trial for Grand Forks Murder

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After the devastating death of Jose Lopez, North Carolinan Delvin Shaw is in court facing the murder charges.

Last June, Shaw allegedly broke into Lopez’s home and shot him 4 times.

If convicted with murder and burglary, Shaw will face life in prison.

KVRR’s Erin Lisch has more.

After going through two defensive attorneys, Shaw is representing himself during the trial, saying he did not commit the murder.

Many questions asked by Shaw were denied by the judge.

Along with detectives and officers, 19–year–old Dametrian Welch took the stand for the prosecution.

Welch said he was on drugs when he went with Shaw to the home invasion, he also wanted to steal dope to sell.

Soon finding out it was the wrong home.

He pled guilty in March to a reduced charge of facilitating murder and burglary.

“What happens when the door is kicked open?” asked the assistant state attorney.

Dametrian Welch said, “Mr. Lopez and his wife they both got out the bed. Lopez and Shaw had an altercation, and that’s when Shaw shot him.”

Jose Lopez, known as Joe died from 4 gunshot wounds that Shaw apparently shot.

His pregnant fiancé and daughter were in the apartment at the time.

“I don’t know why it happened. I just felt devastated like, I just lost my father so I feel like…it was wrong to take someone else’s father,” said Welch.

Lopez’s family traveled all across the state for Shaw’s trial and hopes for justice.

Lopez’s brother Dionicio Lopez Jr. said,”The main thing for me coming to this court is I just want him to rest, be happier.”

His father  Dionicio ‘Donny’ Lopez said,”He had a lot of friends, a lot of friends that love him and miss him a lot.”

“His nephews love him a lot,” siad Lopez Jr.

More than 30 witnesses are planned to take the stand within the next two weeks before Shaw’s fate is decided by a jury.

Reporting in Grand Forks, Erin Lisch KVRR News.

Welch will be sentenced July 29th.