Mistrial Declared in Murder Attempt Case

A judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of Timothy McDonald, a Marion “Suge” Knight associate who was charged with attempted murder and assault with a firearm.

Jurors deadlocked after about eight hours of deliberations over three days.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura C. Ellison ordered McDonald and lawyers back to the Torrance courthouse Nov. 10. Prosecutors were still considering whether to retry McDonald. Defense attorney Anthony Brooklier said he planned to ask the judge to dismiss the case.

During closing arguments earlier this week, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dara Williams said the defendant, a member of the Mob Piru Blood gang, had gone to South Los Angeles on Oct. 22, planning to kill a rival gang member. He pointed his gun out the car window but pulled it back in without firing when sheriff’s deputies drove by, she said.

The defendant and Darryl “Biggie” Small, who was driving, left the scene and attempted to evade police officers, she said.

Brooklier argued that McDonald had gone to the neighborhood to pay his respects to a friend who had been killed days before. He told jurors that his client had never pointed the gun and hadn’t been planning to commit a drive-by shooting. Brooklier also accused Sheriff’s Deputy John Davoren of lying. No intended victim has been identified in the case.