AJ Flashcards
How old are you, AJ?
17
Do you attend school?
Yes, I am a senior at buckeye high school
AJ, describe yourself for the court?
I am a medieval enthusiast, so much so that I even founded a high school club for medieval activities. I also work every year at the Buckeye Medieval Faire which allows me to dress up in medieval costumes and speak like a medieval person.
What is the Buckeye Medieval Faire?
It’s only the most popular event in Buckeye. It’s a fair celebrating medieval times and culture. The main event in the annual costume contest.
Besides working at the Faire, what, if any, Faire events did you participate in?
The costume contest of course. I mean, I spent an entire year planning my costume to try and win best in show.
What were you dressed in costume as?
An archer
And what did your archer costume consist of?
A helmet, a chain all coif covering my neck and head, an archers tunic, a breast plate, leather greaves to cover my shins and special foot wear. Oh, and bow and arrows too!!!!
Were the bow and arrows real?
Of course not. It was a toy bow and the arrows had foam and multicolored tips.
Specifically, what colors were the arrow tips?
Primarily pink, purple, and sky blue
AJ, I am now handing you what has been marked as exhibit B. Do you recognize this document?
Yes
Can you please identify for the court what exhibit B is?
It’s a replica of the bow and arrows that I used as part of my archer costume.
Does the bow and arrows shown in exhibit B differ in any way from the bow and arrows which you had in your possession?
No
Aj, do you recall the events of July 25, 2015?
Yes, unfortunately that was the day I got shot multiple times by Officer Riley Green?
Can you describe the events of July 25, 2015 leading up to your being shot?
I had signed up to participate in the costume contest which was taking place later that evening. Because it took me 20 minutes to get the costume on, I decided to dress up at home and drive to the Faire in full costume
What, if any, reactions did you receive from others while driving to the fair dressed like a medieval archer?
Oh, I definitely for a few stares. I also got a lot of smiles and people where giving me a thumbs up too. It was funny.
What occurred when you initially arrived at the fair?
Actually, I had made plans to go to the Faire with my friend, Sam jones, so I parked on Sam’s street and began looking for his house.
And were you doing this while dressed in full archer costume?
Oh yes. I also began shouting in character and pretending people were about to invade my castle. I even pulled out an arrow and shot a guy in the chest as a joke.
How did the gentleman who you shot with an arrow react?
He thought it as hilarious. He even picked up the arrow and gave it back to me.
(He thought it was hilarious! He even picked up the arrow and gave it back to me.)
Then what happened?
To my horror, I realized my left leather greave was falling off. Worse yet, when I tried to tighten the the lace holding it, the lace broke.
Why was your lace breaking so significant?
Because the costume contest was happening in an hour. One year of planning was going to be ruined and all because of a broken lace. I was horrified.
(Because the costume contest was happening in an hour! One year of planning was going to be ruined and all because of a broken lace. I was horrified.)
What happened next?
When I found Sam, he told me that there was a convenience store on the way to the Faire that might sell laces. So, we headed there.
What happened when you arrived at the store?
I was still in costume so I began to talk in character about plundering the store.
Based upon your personal observations, did any costumers appear to feel threatened by your role playing?
Not that I could tell. Most of them were laughing at m especially when they saw my toy arrows. Well, except for one particular costumer.
(Not that I could tell. Most of them were laughing at me especially when they saw my toy arrows. Well for one particular costumer.)
Can you please elaborate?
Well, when I found the laces I was looking for I decided to shoot them with my toy bow and arrow and, unfortunately, I hit another patron.
Based upon what you observed, how did this patron react to being hit by the toy arrow?
Not well. The arrow hit her in the back of the head so she turned around and began cursing me out. When she turned, her shopping basket knocked serval jars of red sauce on the floor.
(Not well. The arrow hit her in the back of the head so she turned around and began cursing me out. When she turned, her shopping basket knocked several jaws of red sauce onto the floor.)
Then what happened?
I decided to leave the store, with the new laces of course. Before I left, i dropped two dollars which was more than enough to pay for the laces in full.
After you left the store, what did you do?
Sam and I got into a verbal altercation in the parking lot. Nothing physical though.
What was the reason for the verbal altercation?
Sam was upset that I was acting in character in the store. He thought i was taking the role playing thing a bit too far.
How did you respond to Sams point of view?
I told sam he was overreacting to make my point, I drew my bow and arrow to show I’m how it worked and how easy it is to miss your target. These are toy bow and arrows you know.
(I told Sam he was overreacting. To make my point, I drew my bow and arrow to show him how easy it was do miss your target. These are toy bow and arrows you know.)
What happened next?
As I drew my bow and arrow to show Sam how it worked, I heard someone shouting. I couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from so I turned to look and see who it was.
After you turned, could you determine who was shouting?
Unfortunately, no. When I turned around, my helmet shifted and blocked my vision.
AJ, where was Sam standing when you heard someone shouting?
Right next to me.
Based solely on what you observed, did Sam appear to react to the person who was shouting.
No- I didn’t see Sam react in any way at all.
(No-I didn’t seem Sam react in any way at all.)
What happened next?
Within a split second of turning around I heard a loud bang and felt a horrible pain in my shoulder. I don’t really remember much from that point on because I passed out from the pain shortly thereafter. When I came to, I learned that I had been shot twice.
AJ, prior to being shot, did you hear any commands or warnings to put the bow and arrow down?
No
Did you see any flashing lights indicating that a law enforcement officer was present?
No
Did you hear any sirens indicating that a law enforcement officer was present?
No. For that matter, I don’t even remember seeing a police car there.
When you drew the bow and arrow at Sam, were any other people in the parking lot?
Yes
Did Sam or any other person present in the parking lot flee the scene or attempt to take cover when you drew the bow and arrow at Sam?
No
Please state your name for the record
AJ Bryant
