FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The prosecution resumed its examination Tuesday morning with Carlos Navarro, the final witness carried over from the previous day. Jurors also heard testimony from Camryn Shepherd, Abigail Haas, Henry Newman, an unnamed minor witness and Michael Dexter.
RELATED: Live updates as the trial plays out in court
Carlos Navarro
Navarro testified that after the shooting, he remained inside the McDonald’s for about 20 to 30 minutes before being released by police. He later called Cassandra from the parking lot to tell her Caleb had been shot.
Navarro said that when he saw a masked person inside the restaurant before the shooting, he thought, “that looks exactly like (teen boy suspect).” He testified that Cassandra responded, “no that’s not possible, I just dropped him off, he doesn’t even dress like that.”
Surveillance video shown in court depicted Cassandra and her boyfriend arriving at the restaurant before Caleb arrived. Video later showed the pair leaving, with Cassandra appearing to leave quickly while her boyfriend hugged friends goodbye.
According to Navarro, Cassandra later returned and joined a group that included him. He testified that this was when she discussed allegations involving Caleb and appeared “on edge.”
He also said he saw Cassandra at Caleb’s vigil the following morning and described her as crying.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Sally Vecchiarelli highlighted differences between Navarro’s courtroom testimony and prior statements to Clovis police. Vecchiarelli referenced an interview in which Navarro said he told Michael Dexter that the masked man “kinda looks like (teen boy suspect)” and indicated that either Cassandra or another person in the group responded that Cassandra’s boyfriend would not dress that way. Navarro also denied receiving money from Crime Stoppers.
Camryn Shepherd
Camryn Shepherd, a classmate of Cassandra’s, testified that she gave Cassandra a ride to school the day after the shooting because Cassandra’s car was not working.
Shepherd said Cassandra appeared “upset,” “sad” and “not normal” during the drive to school.
She also testified that Cassandra became more reserved when the shooting was discussed in the days that followed and was “a little defensive” after her vehicle, the white Tesla identified as the getaway car, was taken. Shepherd described Cassandra’s normal personality as bubbly, energetic and expressive.
Abigail Haas
Abigail Haas testified that she knew Caleb through church and also knew Cassandra and Cassandra’s boyfriend, the alleged shooter.
Haas said that during youth group on the night of the shooting, Cassandra asked whether Caleb would be attending. Haas testified that Cassandra said she and her boyfriend planned to leave early so she could take him home to change.
Later that night at McDonald’s, Haas said she saw Cassandra and her boyfriend at McDonald’s. Prior to the shooting, Cassandra left briefly to take her boyfriend home, and returned alone later on.
Haas testified that after Caleb was shot, Cassandra pushed past people who were telling her to stay inside and repeatedly said she needed to go home.
“I need to go home,” Haas testified Cassandra said as she headed toward the exit.
Haas said she grabbed Cassandra and asked why she wanted to go outside after someone had just been shot, but Cassandra pushed away and ran from the restaurant.
Haas also testified that she noticed a man dressed in black with a black mask inside McDonald’s about 15 minutes after she arrived.
During cross-examination, Vecchiarelli referenced a prior statement in which Haas described Cassandra’s boyfriend wearing black clothing at youth group and said black was a typical color for him to wear. On redirect, Haas clarified that she was referring to what he wore at Clovis Hills and did not recall what he wore at McDonald’s.
Henry Newman
Henry Newman told jurors he had known Cassandra through church for three to four years and attended Caleb’s vigil the morning after the shooting.
Newman testified that Cassandra spent much of the day with friends, and “acted normal,” including getting Dutch Bros and going swimming.
“She was with us the whole day,” Newman said.
He also testified that Cassandra later offered him her Tesla, the getaway car, after he complained about not having a vehicle and that she later drove him to his girlfriend’s house. She claimed it was “giving her issues,” and she “did not want it anymore.” Newman said upon riding in it with Cassandra, he did not observe any problems with the vehicle.
During cross-examination, Vecchiarelli played a recording of a previous interview in which Newman told investigators he would not have thought Cassandra was involved because she appeared “absolutely devastated.” Newman acknowledged making that statement but testified that, in hindsight, her emotional reaction could have had multiple explanations.
Minor Witness
A minor witness testified that she knew Caleb through church and described their relationship as close, “like a brotherly relationship.”
The witness said Cassandra approached her and Abigail Haas at youth group on the night of the shooting and asked them to contact Caleb to see if he would be attending youth group that night. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
She later went to McDonald’s, where she heard a gunshot after Caleb said goodbye. The witness testified that she began comforting people nearby but did not remember seeing Cassandra at the restaurant.
During cross-examination, she said she knew Cassandra and Caleb to be friends and was not aware of any ongoing disagreements between them.
Michael Dexter
Michael Dexter testified that he had been friends with Cassandra since second grade and knew Cassandra’s boyfriend through school.
Dexter said the suspected teen shooter attended youth group that night, which was unusual because he was “not a religious person.”
He testified that Cassandra and her boyfriend later left McDonald’s so Cassandra could take him home, and that Cassandra returned sooner than he expected. Shortly after returning, Cassandra discussed allegations of a sexual assault committed by Caleb and appeared upset.
Dexter told jurors he had heard the same allegations one to two weeks earlier from Cassandra’s boyfriend during a phone call. He said he seemed calm but had a “very strong opinion on Caleb.”
Dexter also testified that a masked person dressed entirely in black drew attention inside the restaurant. After Carlos Navarro commented that he would have thought the person was Cassandra’s boyfriend, Dexter said he began paying closer attention. He testified that the masked individual appeared to be watching Caleb and later followed him out of the restaurant.
Dexter said he later saw Cassandra leave after learning someone had been shot.
“She had to go,” Dexter testified. He said Cassandra appeared “very enthusiastic to leave” and that she was the only person he saw leave.
During cross-examination, Dexter testified that he had contacted Crime Stoppers about information Cassandra’s boyfriend allegedly shared regarding accusations against Caleb. He said investigators never followed up with him.
Dexter also testified that Cassandra described her relationship with her boyfriend as unhealthy and said he was jealous of some of her male friends. According to Dexter, Cassandra never expressed a desire to harm Caleb and was instead upset about the well-being of a friend and allegations involving Caleb.
