CLARSKVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tony Bristol became emotional as he told a Montgomery County jury what happened on Aug. 6, 2017, when he shot two men outside of Callee’s Too nightclub.
While admitting he fired the shots, Bristol said he was in fear for his life after being threatened and wasn’t trying to kill anyone.
Bristol, 33, is standing trial on charges of first-degree felony murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of convicted felon going armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony for the murder of Kenneth Harris, 33, who was shot and killed outside of Callee’s Too on Aug. 6, 2017. He is also charged with shooting Andrell “AJ” Harris in the leg.
Family drama in nightclub
Bristol said his home had been shot up days before and he’d obtained a gun for protection. He was called in to work at Callee’s Too as an unarmed security guard and said that during the course of the night, he was confronted a few times by Kenneth Harris and Andrell “AJ” Harris due to family drama.
Kenneth Harris was married to Lisa Harris. Bristol’s brother Derrick and Lisa have two children together, and Kenneth Harris allegedly had issues with Derrick. Bristol said he never had any issues with Kenneth Harris and he knew of him but didn’t know him well. He said he didn’t know Andrell Harris at all.
That night, Monique Slaughter, Bristol’s mother, was at the nightclub having drinks and testified that Kenneth Harris had knocked her drink over and was acting threatening towards her. Bristol said when he was doing security in the club, the men would approach him.
“I was scared. I was in fear before then, to be honest. I was on edge,” Bristol said. “Kenny Harris said, ‘You know it’s nothing but $100,000 bounty on anyone’s head.’ He asked if my trailer had been shot up and then said, ‘You know we got them guns.’ At that point it didn’t feel right.”
Bristol said he asked to clock out early so he could get his mother home and leave before closing. Bristol went and put on the jacket he wore to work, which had his gun in it, and was told by his supervisor to wait at least 10 minutes before leaving for the night. He said he didn’t retrieve his gun to confront them, and he was trying to get away from the situation.
Bristol said he told his mother to get her keys so he could drive her home and then to call a friend when she couldn’t find her keys. Bristol told his mother to stand by the door and said he wanted to be away from her in case something happened so she wouldn’t be injured.
The video showing the shooting in the parking lot, which the jury had seen multiple times, was played.
‘I didn’t mean to kill him’
Bristol said he heard a commotion where his mother was standing and didn’t know if Andrell Harris or Kenneth Harris were armed.
When he walked past Andrell Harris, he said, “Excuse me,” and Andrell Harris said, “Excuse you.”
That escalated into an argument with threats from Andrell Harris.
Bristol hung his head on the stand and paused.
“Oh God, I was scared. I didn’t want to kill him. I shot (Andrell Harris) twice,” Bristol said. “I shot him in the legs. I didn’t want to kill him. I just wanted to subdue him. I saw Kenny Harris walking up. I didn’t know if he had a gun. He walked around the car and he reached.”
Bristol said he fired, and despite the prosecutor implying he shot Kenneth Harris once Harris was wounded and collapsed behind a car, Bristol said he didn’t shoot him again.
“I pushed him down, and he grabbed my leg and said not to kill him,” Bristol said, tearfully. “I said, ‘Why did you do this? What did I do to you?’ He said not to kill him and I said I wasn’t, but to let me go and he did.”
Bristol said he saw his mother and then ran behind the building, leaving the scene.
“I knew they were coming. I neutralized a situation. I’m being honest. I have nothing to lie about,” Bristol said, becoming more emotional. “It hurts! I never wanted this to happen. I’m tired.”
When asked by Assistant District Attorney Helen Young if he killed Harris, Bristol said, “Yes ma’am. I didn’t want to. I just wanted to take care of my babies. That’s all I was focused on. I wasn’t trying to hurt nobody. … I was trying to get away,” he said. “I didn’t want a confrontation. … I wasn’t trying to be malicious. I didn’t want him to get a gun, so I pushed him. Everybody had guns at Callee’s.”
Bristol said he asked many people to testify who knew the truth about what happened, but they declined due to knowing both sides of the family. He said he continues to get threats on his life and fears for his life daily, but he was telling the truth.
The jury will hear instructions and closing arguments before they deliberate on Thursday, Aug. 18.