The trial of Jeremy Smith, the man suspected of shooting and killing another man in an Edgewater road-rage incident, began Tuesday morning in a Jefferson County courtroom. 

Smith, 40, was arrested on Dec. 12, 2023, in connection to the May 3, 2023, shooting death of Adam Fresquez. He was eventually charged with second-degree murder and reckless manslaughter, both felonies, by the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Smith pleaded not guilty to both charges on Sept. 23, 2024.

Jury selection occurred Tuesday and opening statements started Wednesday morning.

The shooting happened around 9:30 a.m. May 3, 2023, near the Tesla supercharger station at the Edgewater Public Market on 20th Avenue. 

According to Edgewater Police Department, video footage showed Fresquez, 33, and Smith arriving at the supercharger station within seconds of each other.

Both parked and Fresquez began walking toward Smith’s Tesla, according to police. After a minute, Fresquez was seen stumbling and Smith pulled out of the parking space and headed east.

Smith immediately called 911 and reported that he had used Mace and shot someone at the charging station after that person “pulled a gun” on him, police said.

The investigation, which took months, revealed that Smith and Fresquez — both driving Teslas — were engaged in a road rage incident. Both men were armed, according to a press release from the Edgewater police.

Evidence showed that Fresquez was hit with pepper spray and shot twice in the back, according to the department.

Smith told dispatch that Fresquez “was brake checking me and stuff,” and said that when the two stopped at the charging station, Fresquez put a gun in his face, according to arrest records. Smith told dispatch the man “went for his gun” before Smith shot him, according to the affidavit.

Around 20 minutes after the incident, Smith texted his mother that he had to shoot a man in self-defense, according to arrest records.

The months-long investigation upset the victim’s mother, Lena Fresquez-Mendez.

The mother led a family effort to keep Adam’s death from being forgotten. The family held rallies and attended Edgewater City Council meetings to put pressure on authorities to make a move on the case.

“My son would never have shot someone in the back and left him to die on the ground,” she told The Denver Gazette following Smith’s arrest.

The trial is expected to last until Monday, depending how long the defense takes, according to a spokesperson from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Now, the decision of whether Smith acted in self-defense will be left to jurors. 

The Denver Gazette reporter Carol McKinley contributed to this report.