Trial Beginning For St. Cloud Man Accused of Murder

ST. CLOUD (AP) - A trial is beginning for a St. Cloud man accused in the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man outside a Sartell strip mall.

23-year-old Demetreus Anthony McGinnis is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count each of third-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and witness tampering. He's accused of shooting Maurice Galvin Jr. in the chest during a drug deal in March 2014.

According to a criminal complaint, McGinnis and Galvin were behind a Sprint store and got into a struggle during which a gun went off.

McGinnis' attorney claims his client acted in self-defense after Galvin threatened him with a gun.

The trial begins this morning and is expected to last about a week.