Surviving accounts say Killins arrived intoxicated, became violent, and allegedly beat James Carter before the encounter escalated. Carter, 45, of Brookhaven, testified that he staggered to his car, fetched a shotgun after realizing he had left his eyeglasses, and returned to the house. According to the defense account presented at trial, Killins grabbed the barrel and the shotgun discharged.

Carter was arrested on a fugitive warrant and jailed from June until trial. After a two-day trial at the Media Courthouse, a 12-member jury acquitted Carter of the most serious murder charges but convicted him of involuntary manslaughter. Judge Anthony R. Semeraro set bail at 10 percent of $20,000 following the verdict. Does anyone have additional details about the scene that night or knew Leon Killins?