CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Testimony in the first-degree murder trial stemming from the 2023 shooting outside Dodge’s on Fort Campbell Boulevard took a dramatic turn Monday as Otis Lee Barnes took the stand in his own defense.

Barnes, along with Maleike Tyree Hamlin and Santanna Antonio Compton McFarlan, has pleaded not guilty in the death of 29-year-old Jarlen Corbin. In the early morning hours of Jan. 28, 2023, the three men exchanged gunfire with Corbin at the entrance to the store, according to police.

Here are three takeaways from days three and four of testimony.

1. Barnes: ‘I was afraid for my life’

In a pivotal moment, Barnes testified that Corbin initiated the confrontation and was the aggressor in the minutes leading up to the shooting.

Barnes told jurors the group had been at a nightclub called Pressure earlier that night before heading to Dodge’s for food. He said Corbin had been staring at him at the club and later pulled into the gas pump across from them.

Barnes claimed Corbin pulled a firearm from his center console, “racked it” and later lifted his jacket to display it. He described Corbin as “hostile” and said he was concerned for the women and friends with him. Barnes said he told Corbin not to reach for his gun again. “He dropped them back to his waist, and that’s when I pulled my firearm out,” he said.

Barnes testified he was afraid for his life when he fired. He also acknowledged that he initially lied to police at the hospital, saying he was medicated and nervous.

Barnes also talked about Corbin being intoxicated. “You could tell he was intoxicated, but it’s not my fault he was slow,” he said.

When asked where his firearm that was never recovered ended up, Barnes said it was “gone with the wind.”

2. Cell phone data puts McFarlan near scene

Jurors heard from criminal investigator Charles Arms with the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office who specializes in cell phone records and geolocation analysis.

Arms explained that cell phones connect to the strongest available tower signal – not necessarily the closest tower. “Your phone is constantly searching for the strongest signal,” he said.

Records introduced in court showed McFarlan’s phone connected to a tower covering the area near 1504 Fort Campbell Blvd., the address of Dodge’s, at approximately 4:52 a.m. on Jan. 28, 2023 – just minutes before gunfire erupted.

3. Fast-moving 4-minute timeline

Lead investigator CPD Sgt. Benjamin Goble walked jurors through surveillance video from Dodge’s, calling it “a lot of moving parts all happening at the same time.”

Between 4:50 a.m. and 4:56 a.m., video showed:

  • Corbin arriving and parking across from the group.
  • Multiple individuals entering and exiting the store.
  • Corbin walking past the group, then turning around and gesturing with his arms.
  • Corbin entering the store, followed several seconds later by two of the defendants.
  • Corbin exiting the store and spreading his arms out at his sides.
  • Gunfire erupting.

Investigators testified Corbin reached for a firearm in his waistband area, but the weapon malfunctioned. Bystander military veteran Christopher Cosby returned fire during the exchange.

By 4:56 a.m., several cars involved – a Chrysler 300, silver sedan and Jeep Grand Cherokee – had left the scene. Officers arrived two minutes later.

Goble identified Barnes as the man in the red jacket with white sleeves, Hamlin as the man dressed in dark clothing and McFarlan as the man in the light yellow hoodie. All were seen opening fire on Corbin.

He also testified he was aware of Corbin’s prior convictions for aggravated assault and reckless endangerment involving a firearm.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courts Center.

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