Accused denies being cold-hearted, calculating person at bush party shooting trial

Crown Attorney Jennifer Moser conducted a tough cross-examination in the London courthouse on Thursday.

The prosecution asked the accused why he was in possession of six handguns, which were at his father’s apartment on the night of the bush bash in July 2021. Later that evening, a fatal shooting would take place at a party for young people in southwest London.

Twenty-three-year-old Carlos Guerra Guerra testified that he was holding the handguns for his friend Dylan Schaap - who would end up attending the party with the accused later that fateful night. Guerra Guerra said, "Basically he (Schaap) said I want you to hold these for a couple of days... now looking back I can say it was dumb."

Guerra Guerra has told the jury that he wanted a real loaded handgun as a prop to make a rap music video he wanted to shoot look more authentic. He said he grabbed a brown one and put it in his side bag or satchel and drove around London looking for a spot to film.

However, Moser suggested that he was lying, and that he was carrying the gun so he could look tough around some female friends.

London, Ont. police investigate a fatal shooting on Pack Road in the city's southwest corner on July 31, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)

She went on to say that Guerra Gurra couldn’t have shot a promotional video that night because he was too busy getting his hair done, hanging with friends and looking for parties near Fanshawe College saying, "The tale you were telling this jury about going out by yourself that day... is completely false?” Guerra Guerra responded, "I disagree."

Moser went on, "You were carrying a loaded firearm that night for reasons why everybody carries an illegal loaded firearm, in case you wanted to shoot someone?” Guerra Guerra responded, "I strongly disagree on that."

Then the Crown arrived at the moment that his friend Emily Altmann frantically called him to come help her at the party, which took place off of Pack Road in southwest London. Guerra Guerra was told of an altercation with other party-goers and he told the jury that he wanted to go get his friend out of a bind, and out of the forest.

However, when Guerra Guerra arrived at the scene the court heard that Altmann was standing by the roadway with friends and away from the party. That’s when Moser suggested to him that he wore a mask and hoodie because, "You decided that you were the one going back into the forest, strong and confidently because you knew that on your hip was the great equalizer: a loaded semi-automatic pistol?” Again he responded, "I disagree... I never had an intention of using this gun."

The jury has heard that Guerra Guerra shot someone he was involved in a fight with because he feared the person who appeared standing above him holding a machete.

After the accused raced away from the scene,18-year-old Josue Silva would be found in the field with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He would later be pronounced dead in hospital.

Josue Silva is seen in this undated family photo. (Source: Westview Funeral Chapel)

Several days later Guerra Guerra would be arrested and charged with second degree murder and assault with a weapon. He has plead not guilty.

Later on Thursday, Moser brought up threatening text messages that Guerra Guerra sent to Altmann warning people to remain quiet about what had happened that night. Moser suggested, "I'm going to put to you that a cold-hearted, calculating person that just killed somebody on purpose and wanted to make sure there was nobody around to snitch on them would have said exactly the same thing?”

Guerra Guerra responded, "I don't know what a cold-hearted calculating killer would have done because that's not who I am."

This is the eighth week for the lengthy trial.