Jury finds Gadsden man guilty in 2016 murder at convenience store
An Etowah County jury found a Gadsden man guilty in a 2016 murder at a convenience store on Ewing Avenue.
Qwintin Deaundre Kirby, 31, was convicted in the shooting death of 25-year-old Michael Anthony Salster on Jan. 15, 2016.
Etowah County Presiding Judge George Day set sentencing for 1:30 p.m. March 17. Kirby faces a sentence of 99 years to life in prison because of two prior felony convictions.
Gadsden police investigated the shooting in the parking lot of the AGE Fuel Depot. According to testimony, Salster approached a vehicle in the parking lot and spoke to someone in the front seat; Kirby, who was reclining in the back seat rose up and shot Salster in the throat.
In the defense's version of events, Kirby said Salster had repeatedly threatened to hurt him, and on the night of the shooting he came up to the vehicle, aggressively opened the back door and lunged at Kirby in an aggressive manner. He said he fired in self-defense.
Salster, who was unarmed, died at the scene. Kirby fled, but was arrested the next day by Gadsden Police Officer Matt Beatty.
District Attorney Jody Willoughby said video surveillance evidence from the store and physical evidence at the scene proved to be critical in trying the case. He commended GPD Investigator Eric Phillips, patrol officers and crime scene technicians, along with scientists from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, for their work at the time of the crime and their testimony in court.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid, Willoughby and Deputy District Attorney Brynn Crain prosecuted the case; all expressed thanks to the jury and appreciation for the verdict.
"The family of Michael Salster will forever suffer his loss, but they are deeply grateful for the hard work of all involved and to the jurors for the verdict," Reid said. "We certainly share that gratitude."
Reid said it's always reassuring to see a group of Etowah County jurors resolve the legal and factual issues of a challenging case without confusion or distractions.
He said this case was especially challenging because of COVID-related delays, and the resulting reluctance of some witnesses to testify because of the time that had passed since the shooting.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden man found guilty of murder in 2016 shooting death
