Jury to continue deliberating in pedestrian's death

Jury deliberations will resume Monday in the murder and conspiracy trial of Gerard Shaffer Jr., 23, accused of fatally attacking an intoxicated pedestrian who walked too slowly in front of his father's SUV.

The Common Pleas Court jurors deliberated for less than an hour Friday after closing arguments in the case.

On the evening of April 8, 2010, Shaffer grabbed Mark Wallace in a bear hug, and the two fell on the street at Knights and Fairdale Roads in the Northeast, police reports show. Wallace, 54, died two weeks later of massive brain injuries.

Shaffer's lawyers argued that Shaffer did not intend to hurt Wallace, but was trying to break up a fight between Wallace and the defendant's father, Gerard Sr. The father, known as "Big Gerry," was also charged with murder, but died Dec. 5, 2011, at home of a heart attack at age 48.

Witnesses testified that the confrontation occurred when Wallace was crossing the intersection and walked in front of Shaffer Sr.'s gold Dodge Durango stopped eastbound at the light on Fairdale.

Assistant District Attorney Peter Lim has argued that Shaffer willingly took part in the fight to show his father he was "a tough guy." Shaffer Sr. was a 23-year city firefighter, and Shaffer Jr. was seeking to become a firefighter.

Judge Lillian Ransom told the jurors they may consider an involuntary-manslaughter charge if they do not convict him of third-degree murder.