NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Even before the witnesses took the stand Tuesday afternoon, jurors knew they’d have a tough task ahead of them in the murder trial of Bruce Hisle, 42.

Hisle was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of James Carter, 84, and the malicious wounding of Shontel Cradle on Dec. 20, 2023 outside Carter’s Triple-C convenience store on Lindenwood Avenue.

In opening statements, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Miles told the jurors they would hear contradictory testimony from prosecution witnesses and testimony from people with felony records. Miles added that it’s a case where Hisle’s brother, Dennis, was the original murder defendant, but that charge shifted to Bruce Hisle 11 months into the case.

The jury heard from Georgia Carter, the daughter of James Carter, who testified she warned her father not to go outside after she heard men arguing that evening, but almost as soon as he went out, a bullet struck Carter in the head, killing him.

Bruce and Dennis Hisle were outside the convenience store and got into a heated discussion with Dommion McLain, a current jail inmate. McLain‘s friend since childhood, Shontel Cradle, who served 25 years in prison, testified that he wanted to be a peacemaker.

Cradle walked across Lindenwood Avenue to a white Toyota Sienna van where, according to his testimony, the Hisles’ were selling liquor. Cradle then returned back across the street toward McLain and the front of the store, and the gunfire began. One of the bullets struck and killed Carter, and another struck Cradle in the right rib and exited out his back.

The Commonwealth said 11 bullet casings were recovered from the scene that match a 10mm handgun and ammunition recovered from the Toyota van.

Bruce and Dennis Hisle and Tamika Credle were arrested in the van later that night in Portsmouth.

Dennis Hisle, originally charged with killing Carter, ended up pleading to two lesser charges and got two years active prison time. Credle drove the van and was sentenced to six months active time behind bars as an accessory after the fact.

The trial for Bruce Hisle continues Wednesday.