Rashawn Anderson was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder and aggravated battery in the murder trial of a Topeka man accused in a Feb. 5, 2006, downtown Lawrence shooting.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Friday jurors began deliberating in the case. The verdict came down less than three hours later. Sentencing is May 25.

During closing arguments this afternoon in the trial of 20-year-old Rashawn Anderson, a prosecutor told jurors the state had presented a mountain of credible evidence that included scientific and eyewitness testimony, but a defense attorney said witnesses and evidence did not do enough to positively identify Anderson as the shooter.

Anderson had been charged with first-degree murder – jurors found him guilty of a lesser charge – in the death of 46-year-old Robert Earl Williams, also of Topeka, and aggravated battery in the injury of Pierre Burnette, 24, Kansas City, Kan. The shootings happened early in the morning after a hip-hop concert outside the Granada, 1020 Mass. After the shooting, city leaders began discussing and reviewing downtown safety.

Assistant Douglas County District Attorney Amy McGowan said Anderson performed the shooting to prove to his friends that he was “a big man.”

“But he’s not a big man. He’s a little man, who used a cowardly ambush to kill a father, brother, uncle and husband, who didn’t know it was coming,” McGowan said.

But defense attorney Tom Bartee said the state failed to meet the burden of proof.

“He’s not the shooter in this case, so you should find him not guilty,” Bartee said.

Three eyewitnesses who identified Anderson as the shooter either by the coat he wore that night or by his face.

Bartee said the witnesses, including Bryce Johnson, 33, of Topeka, changed their descriptions several times from what they originally told police. He also said the descriptions were inconsistent and that they came from people who would favor Williams, who was also friends with several people at the concert that night.

Other key pieces of evidence include a home video shot throughout the evening inside and outside the Granada. The video ended minutes before the shooting occurred. Williams can be seen and heard on the tape arguing and cursing loudly with several people after the concert. He had drank alcohol and smoked marijuana that night, as had several people at the concert, witnesses said.

Williams was involved in several arguments that night. He did pull out a pocketknife and conceal it during an argument with several people, including Avery “Muggz” Peppers of Topeka, although the confrontation eventually calmed down and Williams left. At one point, Anderson can be seen on the tape looking down at Williams’ hand and pointing it out to one of his friends.

Although Bartee said Williams could not be identified as the shooter, during his closing argument he did mention Williams’ behavior could have been considered threatening to someone that night, hinting at jury instructions that mention the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

“It’s a lock-blade knife, and it’s a knife not designed for whittling on wood or the camp ground,” Bartee said of the Williams’ knife. “It’s a dangerous knife. That’s a knife designed to hurt people.”

McGowan said Anderson took another chance to shoot Williams when he saw him return to the sidewalk in front of the Granada.

Williams was shot five times total in his back and the back of his right arm.

“Robert Williams didn’t have to die, and he didn’t certainly deserve to die – to be gunned down in the street without any dignity,” McGowan said.

Other evidence includes a revolver that matches two bullets found near Williams’ body. The revolver also contains a DNA match to Anderson’s DNA on the grip, but Bartee said the testing process could have involved a contaminated blade that was not cleaned properly by Kansas Bureau of Investigation specialists.

On the murder charge, jurors can also consider lesser charges of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Defense attorneys for Rashawn T. Anderson, 20, presented three witnesses in the morning as the trial wrapped up. Two witnesses said they saw Anderson handle the suspected murder weapon two different times at a friend’s house before the shooting, but they said he picked it up for a few seconds and then set it down.

Investigators have matched Anderson’s DNA to the gun and also matched the gun to two bullets found near the body of the 46-year-old victim, Robert Earl Williams, who died minutes after the shooting outside the Granada, 1020 Mass.

Defense attorney Mark Manna has said because Anderson picked up the gun, his DNA was found on it.

Jamil Fulton, 19, of Topeka, and Anderson’s friend, also denied being part of a conversation in days after the shooting when Anderson’ÃÃ’s girlfriend, DeShayla Johnson said Andersons admitted being nervous that police would identify him as the shooter on the video.

During questioning from assistant Douglas County District Attorney Trent Krug, Fulton said he was not with Anderson the night of the shooting, only during the day.

“You don’t know what Rashawn Anderson did that night, do you?” Krug asked.

“No, sir,” Fulton said.

Defense attorneys have argued that no one can clearly identify the shooter, but eyewitness Bryce Johnson, 33, Topeka, testified Thursday afternoon and this morning that he saw the shooter’s face. He identified Anderson in court, but during questioning, Manna has tried to say Johnson’s story has changed several times.

Lawrence police officer Michael McLaren testified this morning that he spoke with Johnson shortly after the shooting outside the Granada, which occurred when a hip-hop concert ended.

“He told me that he actually just heard it and didn’t see it,” McLaren said.

Johnson said yesterday that statement referred to Pierre Burnette, 24, Kansas City, Kan., who was also shot once and injured. Williams died from five gun shot wounds, including one that pierced his heart.

The trial began Monday, and prosecutors rested their case this morning.