After two years, a man accused of shooting another man at the Wapiti Lodge in Durango is set to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, witness tampering and violating a protection order.
In October 2023, Jonnie Cash Kimbrough allegedly shot 25-year-old Quentin Mayberry in the head, killing him.
Jury selection began Monday; the trial is expected to run through Dec. 19.
District Court Judge Nathaniel Baca is presiding over the case. Katherine Whitney and Brian Schowalter are representing Kimbrough. Prosecutors William Davis and Connor Willis are representing the state.
The altercation that landed Kimbrough in legal troubles was the result of an Oct. 25, 2023, altercation in which Mayberry reportedly forced his way into the motel room where Kimbrough and Hunter Griswold – his on-and-off-again girlfriend who also had history with Mayberry – were staying.
According to the affidavit, Mayberry refused repeated requests to leave the room. Kimbrough then shot him.
Earlier that day, Griswold encountered Mayberry at a Durango bar and asked him to set up a drug deal. Mayberry did so, then followed her to the Wapiti Lodge.
“(Griswold) said she thought she dissuaded (Mayberry) from following her, because she was able to walk a good distance away from him, but as she neared the Wapiti, she said she heard (Mayberry) running up to her,” the affidavit said.
Griswold had been texting Kimbrough, who was at the motel, to warn him that Mayberry was trying to follow her. As a result, Kimbrough was at the front door and opened it for Griswold. Mayberry was close behind and pushed his way into the room. He sat on a bed and reportedly refused repeated requests to leave. Griswold tried to push him to the door, the affidavit said.
Griswold had a black Taurus G3C 9 mm pistol in a backpack. After Mayberry refused to leave, Kimbrough asked Griswold where her gun was located. Griswold refused to say, but Kimbrough found the firearm in her backpack and began threatening Mayberry.
“Mayberry said he wasn’t leaving and challenged Jonnie Kimbrough about what he was going to do about it,” the affidavit said. “Quentin Mayberry said Jonnie Kimbrough wasn’t going to shoot him.”
Kimbrough then shot Mayberry. Griswold was reportedly in disbelief that Kimbrough had pulled the trigger.
According to Kimbrough’s account in the affidavit, Mayberry forced himself on top of Griswold and was threatening to steal from them. He also apparently said he wanted to “smoke his foil,” referring to inhaling drugs by heating them up in a piece of tinfoil.
According to court documents, Kimbrough is charged with first-degree murder, violating a protection order and two counts of tampering with victims or witnesses.
Jurors are expected to be seated in the coming days, with the trial beginning immediately after selection.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
