WARREN — Deliberations in the murder trial of a Warren man accused of participating in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kardell Lowery continue this morning after the defense and prosecution closed their cases Thursday afternoon.

During the final day of testimony, the jury heard from a DNA expert about evidence linking Brown to the crime.

Tyree Brown, 29, faces two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of having weapons under disability in connection with the July 10 shooting at a Hampshire House apartment. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

The trial has been presided over by Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice.

On Thursday, Stacy Viola, a forensic scientist with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, took the stand to explain DNA analysis conducted on evidence in the case. Viola, who has 25 years of experience in forensic science, testified that DNA from Brown and Lowery was found on pieces of a blue latex glove recovered near the scene.

“The DNA profile from the glove piece was consistent with contributions from both Kardell Lowery and Tyree Brown,” Viola said, adding that while Lowery was the main contributor, the statistical likelihood of the other match belonging to someone other than Brown was one in 200 million.

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman alleges that Brown and co-defendant Michael Williamson forced their way into Lowery’s apartment wearing black clothing and latex gloves before shooting Lowery twice while he was in bed with his 9-year-old son.

This testimony aligns with earlier evidence presented by prosecutors, who allege that Brown and Williamson wore blue latex gloves during the shooting.

Williamson pleaded guilty in February to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary and was sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Jeff Goodman questioned the reliability of the DNA evidence, particularly the presence of Brown’s DNA on the glove. Goodman argued that the DNA could have been transferred to the glove through prior contact and did not definitively place Brown at the scene of the crime.

“You cannot say, to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, that Tyree Brown’s DNA is present in some of these samples, correct?” Goodman asked.

“Correct,” Viola replied, acknowledging that while Brown’s DNA was identified as a major contributor on one glove piece, other samples contained insufficient data to make definitive conclusions.

Wildman countered asking Viola, “You’re not saying he’s not in there at all, correct?” Wildman said.

“Correct,” she said.

Forensic Pathologist Dr. George Sterbenz, who performed the autopsy on Lowery, described the two gunshot wounds that led to his death. The first, a gunshot to the lower back, fractured Lowery’s spine and caused significant internal bleeding. While this injury was severe, Sterbenz testified that it was not immediately fatal and could have been survivable with medical intervention.

The second gunshot, Sterbenz said, was a “tight contact” wound to the left ear, meaning the muzzle of the gun was pressed firmly against Lowery’s head when it was fired. This caused an explosive injury that tore apart Lowery’s ear, fractured his skull, and severed his brainstem.

“This injury to the brain is catastrophic. It’s not survivable and is going to be rapidly fatal,” Sterbenz said, he explained that the tight contact nature of the head wound would have resulted in significant blood spatter, which could have transferred biological material, such as blood, onto the shooter’s hands, clothing or gloves.

The trial, which began earlier this week, included testimony from Lowery’s girlfriend, Amari Williamson, and her 9-year-old son, who was present during the shooting, and testimony from Warren police officers and forensic experts.

Amari Williamson identified Brown as one of two intruders, though Goodman has challenged the reliability of her identification, noting she initially told police she did not recognize the suspects. Amari Williamson clarified on the witness stand Wednesday that she had feared for her safety when she made the statement, “I still fear for my safety,” she said.

Wildman said the shooting was a “cold-blooded execution,” alleging that Brown and Williamson targeted Lowery in retaliation for a prior altercation.

According to prosecutors, Lowery had beaten Michael Williamson two days earlier after Michael Williamson assaulted Lowery’s girlfriend.