'I don't remember firing it,' says man accused of gunning down man in Volusia love triangle

Damian DeRousha testified in his murder trial on Wednesday that he did not recall pulling the trigger eight times and shooting a fellow Volusia County employee who was having an affair with his wife.

DeRousha is charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the killing of Donald Geno, 31, on Feb. 4, 2021, at the Volusia County Fleet Maintenance Facility. DeRousha’s wife, Shauna, and Geno had started a sexual affair that January.

“You don’t remember shooting him?” Assistant Public Defender Larry Avallone asked DeRousha.

“No, I don’t remember removing my handgun. I don’t remember firing it. It’s just a giant blank spot,” DeRousha responded.

Earlier in the trial: 'I shot Geno': Ex-Volusia County worker on trial in killing of co-worker in love-triangle

More on the love-triangle killing: Sheriff: Man fatally shot in love triangle at Volusia County vehicle maintenance facility

Previous cases: Man accused in shooting at Volusia County facility among 4 indicted in murder cases

DeRousha testified that he had just wanted to tell Geno that he knew about the affair and that it had to end. Instead, DeRousha said Geno became argumentative, threw something at him, took a swing at him but missed, and then blocked his path out of the building.

But Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak questioned DeRousha about why two other workers who were in the area did not see Geno become argumentative, or throw a punch or tool.

If convicted of first-degree murder, DeRousha, 44, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. Circuit Judge Karen Foxman is presiding over the trial at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Geno and the DeRoushas all worked for Volusia County. Damian DeRousha was a special projects coordinator in janitorial services with an office near the maintenance facility. Shauna DeRousha was an inventory control specialist in the parts department and Geno was a mechanic at the county's maintenance facility at 1270 Indian Lake Road, Daytona Beach.

Avallone and the 7th Circuit Public Defender Matt Metz are representing DeRousha.

Damian DeRousha gives his account of what happened Feb. 4, 2021

In sometimes emotional testimony, in which he appeared to hold back tears, DeRousha recounted the day.

DeRousha said he began suspecting in January 2021 that his wife was having an affair because he started seeing patterns similar to two previous affairs she had had. DeRousha taped a voice-activated recording device beneath the driver’s seat of her Toyota Camry.

On the morning of Feb. 4, 2021, he retrieved the recording device and went to work. As customary, DeRousha carried with him a conceal-carry backpack, which contained a 9 mm Walther pistol. He said when he got to work, he plugged in the recording device which confirmed the affair.

And he recognized the man’s voice: Geno, whom his wife had invited to their home in Edgewater in the past. DeRousha said that he had seen Geno in the neighborhood because he didn’t live far away and the two had shared a beer at DeRousha’s house.

DeRousha said he was upset by the affair and told his boss he needed some time off and that he was going to his brother’s house. But DeRousha could not reach his brother. DeRousha parked at a gas station and texted his wife telling her he knew of the affair, but she did not respond.

DeRousha testified he decided to drive back to the maintenance facility and talk to her but when he arrived, her car was not in the lot. Instead, DeRousha walked into a bay where Geno was working.

DeRousha said he was not angry. He said his anger faded after the first five minutes. He said he just expected to have a short conversation with Geno and tell him the affair needed to end.

“I was pretty much face-to-face talking with him telling him it had to stop,” DeRousha said. “He was instantly angry, really aggravated, like he started blowing up acting like he was really pissed off at me.”

DeRousha said, “It just started to scare me. I just wanted to move away from him.”

In response to a question from Avallone, DeRousha said he weighed 140 pounds at the time and has gained 20 since then.

Geno weighed 248 pounds, according to testimony.

“He had something in one of his hands,” DeRousha said of Geno. “It was something shiny and metal. I figured it was probably a wrench or something. That’s normal to have in a mechanic shop working on a vehicle.”

He described Geno.

“He had this look in his eyes and his demeanor and then he started yelling at me. And that’s when I really got scared,” DeRousha said.

'My handgun is in my hand'

DeRousha said he turned around to leave.

“Something comes flying pass and hit over by the tool box area,” DeRousha said.

He said he continued walking toward the bay door when Geno jumped in front of him.

“He's bowed up. He’s got his hands to the sides,” DeRousha said. “He’s yelling at me, screaming ‘I don’t (expletive) believe you coming over here. Who the (expletive) you think you are? I’m a grown-ass man. I’m going to do whatever the hell I want to do with who I want, including your wife,’ and then he took a swing at me."

DeRousha said that he was able to get out of the way of the punch.

“And then the next thing I know I'm standing next to him and my handgun is in my hand,” DeRousha said.

DeRousha said he did not remember firing the gun, which was loaded with seven 9 mm bullets in the magazine, plus one in the chamber.

DeRousha fired all eight bullets, including two which entered through Geno’s back, according to testimony and evidence.

A witness testified that he saw Geno on the ground and DeRousha shooting him.

DeRousha left the empty gun by Geno and walked out.

“I was freaking out. You know, I’d just, by all rights, I'd shot a man, killed somebody. I didn’t know what else to do,” he said.

He remained at the facility where he was arrested by a deputy.

'Instead you shoot to kill'

During cross examination, Urbanak, who is prosecuting the case along with Ashley Terwilleger, pointed out that DeRousha had a lot riding on the outcome of this case, which could keep him locked up for life.

The couple is still married and they still talk on jail calls, telling each other that they love each other. And DeRousha tells Shauna DeRousha that he needs her.

The couple have two children.

In response to Urbanak, DeRousha said he had not placed a recording device in his wife’s cars during previous instances of infidelity.

“And you think there’s anything wrong with trying to secretly record your wife’s conversations?” Urbanak said.

DeRousha paused and said “yes.”

“But you went ahead and did it anyway,” Urbanak said.

“Yes.”

Urbanak said that while DeRousha testified he drove back to the maintenance facility to see his wife, none of the text messages he sent to her say anything about him driving to see her.

Urbanak said DeRousha did send a text message to his wife which read: “Wait till I see Geno and talk to his ass.”

And in another text message a moment later, DeRousha tells her he knows where Geno lives.

Urbanak asked him why he carried his gun to talk to his wife.

DeRousha said he took it everywhere.

“I carry my firearm to my family events to my birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's,” DeRousha said.

Urbanak told DeRousha that Geno could not block the entire bay door and that there were other doors DeRousha could have used to leave.

Urbanak also said that two other men in the area did not hear Geno using expletives or see him throw a punch or anything else.

Urbanak said that DeRousha did not tell the deputy or detectives when he was arrested that Geno had thrown anything at him or swung at him.

“You said Geno got argumentative. You didn’t say he swung at you,” Urbanak said.

“No,” DeRousha replied.

“And even though you were in fear for your life, you didn’t want to get anybody else involved, instead you shoot to kill,” Urbanak said.

DeRousha didn’t respond.

“Right?” Urbanak asked.

“That's what happened, yes,” DeRousha said.

The trial continues Thursday.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona love triangle trial: Suspect says he doesn't remember shooting