ASHEBORO — The lead detective in the Michael Isaac Russ murder trial testified Wednesday.
Russ, 40, of 4511 Colonial Circle, Trinity, is charged with murdering Larry Wayne Campbell, 27, of Denton, on Dec. 22, 2017.
Campbell, a father of three, was shot and killed in a parking lot outside BBQ Joe’s Country Cooking, 4873 NC 62, Trinity.
King Dozier, along with Assistant District Attorney Walt Jones, are prosecuting the case. The defendant is being represented by Thomas Manning and Allen Swaim, both attorneys from Wake County.
Superior Court Judge Bradford Long is presiding over the case.
Second search of truck
Deputy Justin Trogdon testified about a second search of the defendant’s truck that was conducted Dec. 28, 2017.
The first search warrant executed allowed for the seizure of weapons, while the second search focused on items that may be associated with the Hell’s Angels.
Among the items seized were a Hell’s Angels vest, an envelope containing Hell’s Angels stickers, suspected methamphetamine, four hammers, a black whip, a journal and a jacket with the letters “AFFA” on the back.
When asked by the prosecution what AFFA stood for, Trogdon said his general understanding was that it was an abbreviation for “Angel Forever, Forever Angel.”
Trogdon also spotted a shell casing in the truck during the second search.
“I noticed it on top of a red rag.”
In a statement from Roy Pruitt, a close friend of the victim and eyewitness to the shooting, Pruitt described a red rag that was wrapped around the barrel of Russ’ gun when the assault occurred.
Other than the search of the truck, Trogdon had no further involvement in the case.
The shooting scene
Detective Brandon Merrill, the lead investigator of the homicide, also testified Wednesday. Merrill has been present throughout the trial, sitting alongside the prosecution.
Merrill recalled the initial call he received to the scene of the homicide at BBQ Joe’s on Dec. 22, 2017.
According to Merrill, “There was a lot of commotion in the parking lot” when he arrived just before 4:15 p.m.
Campbell was already deceased when Merrill arrived.
While on scene, Merrill began to interview family, speaking to both Campbell’s mother and step-father, Tommy Coe.
″(Tommy) seemed concerned. … He began to break down and start to cry while I was trying to glean information.”
When Merrill received information that a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle had been stopped on Interstate 85, he left the scene to meet Trooper McHenry on the side of the interstate.
Merrill arrived and saw Russ for the first time, standing behind his truck, surrounded by law enforcement vehicles.
When asked by Dozier about Russ’ demeanor, Merrill testified that he was “just relaxed.”
“I walked up to Mr. Russ and explained who I was,” Merrill said, adding that he asked the defendant to accompany him to his vehicle to talk. The traffic on the interstate made it difficult to hear, so the two sat in Merrill’s car.
“We sat down in the vehicle. I explained to him, ‘you have been detained at this point.’ ”
Merrill told Russ he was detained and not arrested at that point and asked if he understood, to which Russ replied that he did.
Merrill transported Russ to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout the 20-30-mile drive, during which Russ was not handcuffed, Merrill stated that the accused remained cordial.
During the ride, Russ asked what would happen to his phone and wallet. When Merrill suggested that Russ’ girlfriend — who had arrived on the interstate after Russ was pulled over — could put it inside of his truck, the defendant replied “absolutely not,” and that she was not to handle his phone or wallet.
Merrill testified that he told Russ that a deputy could place the items in his truck, which he said Russ appeared to find acceptable.
When the pair arrived at the sheriff’s office, they went to an interview room, according to Merrill. Shortly after, he charged Russ with first-degree murder and transported him to the Randolph County Jail.
“He got a little misty-eyed when I first explained to him and let out a sigh,” Merrill said.
Merrill requested that Russ maintain the same level of cooperation that he had exhibited after telling him about the charge.
After handing Russ his order from the magistrate and while asking a jailer where they wanted to hold Russ, Merrill said Russ’ eyes became red and bloodshot.
According to Merrill, Russ then said, “I never meant for this to happen. It was just supposed to be talking. I can’t take it back.”
Additional evidence
Merrill then went through a box of evidence which contained the clothing of the victim, collected following his autopsy. The items included his Iron Patriots vest, motorcycle jacket and two once-white, bloodied shirts.
On Jan. 3, 2018, Merrill conducted an interview with Pruitt, despite Pruitt having already been interviewed by law enforcement.
“I conducted the followup interview based on that he was riding with Larry Wayne Campbell when he was shot.”
Merrill read his interview with Pruitt aloud for the jury.
One key piece of information was included in Pruitt’s statement to Merrill that was not in his previous statement:
“Larry tried to fire one shot back,” according to the statement. “I saw his gun go off.” Pruitt added that Russ tried to fire one shot at him, but he played dead.
Merrill testified that Pruitt “seemed frustrated when he was trying to talk about and describe the details.”
Two phone calls that the defendant placed shortly after being confined to the Randolph County Jail were played for the jury Wednesday.
Both calls were between Russ and his girlfriend.
The first call, which took place the day following Russ’ arrest on Dec. 22, 2017, revealed that Russ requested that his girlfriend wipe his iPhone clean by using the iCloud feature. The two also discussed finances and shared that they missed one another.
Photos of Russ the day he was arrested were also introduced to the jury. Close-up photos of his tattoos reveal a Hell’s Angels tattoo. Along with the words Hell’s Angel and a symbol were the words “North Carolina.”
The jury was dismissed for a long holiday weekend following the admission of the photos into evidence.
The trial will resume Monday, July 8, at 9:30 a.m. in superior courtroom 4A in the Randolph County Courthouse.
Related: Medical examiner testifies in Michael Russ murder trial