Denharrio Lewil

The Fort Dodge man charged with attempted murder and first-degree murder stemming from his alleged role in a Sept. 20 shooting plans to pursue a self-defense strategy at trial, according to court documents.

An attorney for Denharrio Lewil, 18, notified the court of the special defense plan on Nov. 19, as required for criminal trial proceedings. Lewil has pleaded not guilty to both charges, which will be consolidated into one case at trial.

Lewil is accused of killing JLynn Beason, 18, after bullets allegedly aimed at her brother in the 400 block of South 14th Street hit her instead. Criminal complaints say that a verbal argument between Beason’s brother and the defendant preceded the shooting.

“At one point during the altercation, the defendant raised a firearm and fired at (the attempted murder victim) and his vehicle, striking the vehicle at least three times,” the murder charge’s criminal complaint said.

Beason was struck by at least one of the three bullets while sitting in the back seat of her brother’s vehicle — the only person hit by the bullets. The shots were allegedly fired while standing in the middle of the street.

The victim was taken by private vehicle to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center. She was later transferred to a Des Moines hospital, where she died the next day.