FLINT, MI – Attorneys for three of the four people charged in connection to the May 2020 shooting death of a Family Dollar security guard argued in recent court filings that it would be unfair to have the cases heard by one jury because it would put the defendants in an unfair situation as to whether to testify in their own defense.
Jessica Mainprize-Hajek, the attorney representing Ramonyea Bishop, filed an April 11 motion for a separate jury during the upcoming trial of four people accused in the murder of 43-year-old Calvin Munerlyn, who was a security guard at the Family Dollar store at 877 Fifth Ave. in Flint.
David B. Clark, an attorney representing Sharmel Teague, Bishop’s mother and co-defendant, and John A. Tosto, the attorney for Larry Teague, Bishop’s stepfather, submitted filings in support of the original motion.
The fourth co-defendant, Brya Bishop, is Teague’s daughter. Her attorney, Peter Philpott, had not filed a response in connection to having separate juries as of Monday, April 18, but he indicated he would prefer a separate jury, according to court records.
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Mainprize-Hajek’s motion argued that the court should sever the cases to “avoid prejudice to substantial rights of the defendant.”
“If this case is presented to one jury, Ramonyea would be put in a position of potentially having to make a statement that could incriminate or potentially convict his mother, sister, or step-father,” Mainprize-Hajek wrote in her motion.
The attorneys’ motions were filed after prosecutors filed their own motion seeking to consolidate the cases.
No date is currently set for when Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Brian S. Pickell will rule on the motions. There also is no trial date scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
Read more: Trial date set for 2 of 4 people accused in Flint Family Dollar security guard murder case
Sharmel Teague, of Flint, faces first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearms charges.
Larry Teague and Ramonyea Bishop are charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony firearm.
Ramonyea Bishop, whom prosecutors believe pulled the trigger during the fatal shooting, is also charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
First-degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Brya Bishop is charged with tampering with evidence, lying to police investigating a violent crime and accessory after the fact to a felony.
Also: Suspects face trial in shooting death of Flint security guard over mask use at store
Genesee County prosecutors have said previously that Munerlyn’s death involved all four co-defendants.
An executive order put in place by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer required stores at the time to employ mask mandates.
Munerlyn, who was a security guard at the store, told Sharmel Teague and Brya Bishop that they could not enter the store because they were not wearing face masks.
The three people began to argue, with the altercation eventually moving outside and culminating with Teague allegedly spitting on Munerlyn and the security guard pushing her in response.
Soon after, witnesses said in preliminary examination testimony, an older man later identified as Larry Teague walked into the store and demanded to speak with the security guard.
Court records show that, as Munerlyn confronted Teague and attempted to deescalate the situation, a masked man later identified as Ramonyea Bishop walked behind Munerlyn and shot him once in the back of the head with a pistol.
Both men immediately left the store after the shooting, records show.
Police initially said men were seen running from the scene of the shooting, toward high-rise apartments behind the store.
Larry Teague was arrested on May 7, 2020, near the Studio Six Hotel in West Houston, Texas. Ramonyea Bishop was found May 8, 2020, in a three-unit house in Bay City. He was taken into custody without incident.
Larry and Sharmel Teague both remain lodged in the Genesee County Jail, along with Ramonyea Bishop.
Brya Bishop is currently free on tether and under house arrest after a Circuit Court judge granted a motion requesting she be released on bond in order to see her daughter.
Read more at The Flint Journal:
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