Pennsylvania

Jury Picked in Halloween Nightclub Shooting

A jury has been picked for the first of two defendants in a deadly Pennsylvania nightclub shooting on Halloween last year.

The Altoona Mirror reports the jury picked Tuesday in Blair County will begin hearing testimony Dec. 1 in the first-degree murder trial of 21-year-old Hugo Baez.

Baez is charged with fatally shooting 24-year-old Willie Solomon at Choices Nightclub in Altoona. Authorities allege that Baez had argued with Solomon's brother and fired a shot at the brother as both men headed outside to fight. Investigators say Solomon then grabbed Baez, before Baez shot him, too.

Defense attorney Tom Dickey has claimed the shooting was self-defense.

A separate jury will be picked for 24-year-old Brandon Midder, another Altoona man, who's charged with aggravated assault and other crimes for allegedly attacking Solomon after he was shot.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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